Katia Langeard: Sculpting Light Through Clay

KATIA LANGEARD 

Based between Monaco and Nice, Katia Langeard creates contemporary ceramic lighting, sculptural furniture, and collectible art objects that merge architectural thinking with artistic expression. Raised in a family of architects, creativity was an integral part of her upbringing. Her greatest influence was her grandfather, Oleg Goryachev, a celebrated Soviet architect, sculptor, and painter. While he designed numerous landmark resorts in Sochi, it was his artistic universe that left the deepest impression on her.

“The walls of our homes were covered with his paintings. We lived surrounded by his creations: sculpted mirrors, bronze chandeliers, carved wooden furniture. Art was not separate from life; it was part of our everyday environment. As a child, I dreamed of having a workshop like his one day.”

After graduating from the Moscow Architectural Institute, Katia built an international career in architecture and interior design, working across Russia and Europe before settling in Monaco in 2012. Yet after more than two decades in the industry, she felt the need to explore a more personal and tactile form of creation. That search led her to ceramics. Beginning in 2019, she undertook extensive training through courses and masterclasses with internationally recognised ceramic artists, including Stéphane Montalto, Gustavo Pérez, and Kate Malone. In 2023, she opened her own studio and began developing a distinctive body of work centred on ceramic lighting and sculptural design.

What inspired your transition from architecture to ceramics?

For many years, while working in interior design, I was frustrated by the lack of originality in lighting design. The market often felt repetitive, with designers following trends rather than creating something genuinely new. The turning point came when I moved into a new home and searched for lighting that reflected my aesthetic vision. I couldn’t find anything that truly resonated with me. After purchasing a ceramic wall lamp, I realised that this was a medium through which I could express my own ideas. My architectural training gave me a strong understanding of form, structure, and space, but ceramics offered something architecture could not: complete creative freedom and direct contact with the material.

What inspires your work today?

Much of my recent work explores transformation and identity. Living between cultures has made me increasingly aware of the experience of migration and adaptation. Integration is never a finished process; it constantly reshapes how we perceive ourselves and the world around us. Many of my pieces begin as abstract forms inspired by this ongoing evolution. They embody movement, growth, and the subtle shifts that occur when we leave one environment and build a life in another. Nature also plays an essential role in my work. Living on the French Riviera, surrounded by sea, rock formations, and Mediterranean light, I am continually inspired by organic textures and natural rhythms.

Light plays a central role in your creations. Why?

I see light as a material in its own right. Every project begins with a dialogue between form and illumination. I sketch not only the object itself but also the way light will emerge from it. I think about where light should be hidden, where it should appear unexpectedly, and how it can reveal texture and create atmosphere. In many ways, the process feels like painting with light. The ceramic surface becomes a canvas. Through texture, relief, and subtle imperfections, the material captures and transforms light, creating emotional depth and visual movement.

Who collects your work?

My collectors are people who seek authenticity and individuality. They are design enthusiasts, art collectors, architects, and interior designers who appreciate craftsmanship and understand the value of handmade objects. They are not looking for mass-produced products; they want a piece with a story, a human touch, and a strong artistic identity. I particularly enjoy collaborating with interior designers. They understand how a single lighting sculpture can completely transform a space, creating character and atmosphere while remaining functional.

Do you create bespoke works?

Yes. Alongside one-of-a-kind pieces and limited editions, I create bespoke commissions for private collectors, architects, and interior designers. Each commission is an opportunity to develop a unique dialogue between the object, the space, and the client.

What are your upcoming projects?

Following exhibitions at Paris Design Week, Venice Design Week, and Brussels Design September, I am currently developing new collections and preparing future exhibitions. One of my most exciting upcoming projects is a solo exhibition planned in Èze, near Monaco, where I will present a new body of work exploring the relationship between light, material, and transformation.

Instagram: @katialangeard

Website: klangeard.com