About
Portrait by Alex Ballingall
Isac Elam Kaid is an artist and designer, based in Vancouver, Canada.
Born in 1991. He grew up in Alberta, Canada.
His practice is based on the exploration of material, source and process in order to create an ongoing dialogue of meaningful work. This relationship, between experimentation and matter, seeks answers through form, inherent material value and means of process. His work has been exhibited and published internationally.
My first and primary language is that of the natural world. I grew up stacking stones and arranging branches in rural Alberta, and continue this approach through the observation of what is given, and in responding through experimentation and study. I am interested in art that is not about the maker of the work, but rather a continuum of and acknowledgement of our participation with the environment; with cycles of time, transformation and order. Through interacting with an approach that respects the material itself as the subject, the resulting works become portals of time, cycle, ritual and markings of acknowledgement and place.
2023—Chancery at the Canadian Embassy to the Netherlands, in the Hague
2022—Canadian Embassy to Italy, in Milan
2020—Private collection, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
2023—NYC Summer exhibit, Galerie Philia, New York City, NY
2023—Desacralized (Salone del mobile), Galerie Philia, Milan Italy
2023—Designers & Crafters, Exhibition 01, Galerie 05, Singapore
2023—New Town, Galerie Philia, New York City, NY
2022—Strange Quarry II, Galerie Philia, virtual
2022—MA, Studio Rö, Milan IT
2022—New York Summer Exhibition, Galerie Philia, New York City, NY
2022—Hometown, Galerie Philia, New York City, NY
2021—First Times, Galerie Philia, New York City, NY
2021—Abi Chelsea Penthouse, Galerie Philia, New York City, NY
2021—BESPOKE, Stahl&Band, Venice CA
2021—Transhumances II, Numeroventi + Galerie Philia, Florence, Italy
2020—Walker Tower, Galerie Philia, New York City, NY
2020—Ventura Future (Salone del mobile), Ventura Projects, digital edition
Select publications –
2024—Nature-inspired furniture for a soothing, biophilic home, Tatler Asia, April.
2023—Profile of an artist: Isac Elam Kaid, YIN China, September.
2023—Five question with Isac Elam Kaid, Obakki Journal, July
2023—5 lighting and decor collections we love, Tatler Asia, May
2023—Desacralized architecture inspires exhibition, DesignBoom, April
2023—Desacralized, Archello, April
2023—Home and design awards: The best showrooms in Singapore, Tatler Asia, March
2023—Isac Elam Kaid: Master of bringing nature in, Sol Luminaire Journal Singapore, February
2022—5 showrooms to visit in Singapore, InDesignLiving Asia, December
2022—Philia: The nomadic contemporary art gallery NUVO, Spring
2022—Featured artist: Isac Elam Kaid, Rö Journal, April
2022—5 brands to check out, Home&Decor Singapore, February
2022—Hot Spot, Home&Decor Singapore, February
2021—Eight artists capture the genius of a renaissance art hub Architectural Digest Italia, November
2021—The architectural furniture of Isac Elam Kaid, OEN Journal, November
2021—Things to see in Florence, Il Giornale Dell’arte, November
2021—Nomadic art and design, YellowTrace Australia, November
2021—大师与新生的初尝试, IDEAT China, November
2021—Résidence Inspirée, (featured cover), Milk Decoration France, October
2021—Noteworthy across the West, Western Living, October
2021—Transhumances (featured cover), The Design Release, October
2021—Transhumances (featured cover), The Design Edit, October
2021—Á Florence, le design renoue ave l’artisanal d’art, L’echo Belgium, October
2021—Transhumances II, HESTETIKA, October
2021—The best events in Florence, The Florentine, October
2021—Philia: A multi-city exhibition, GRAY, October
2021—Transhumances II at Galerie Philia, STIRPad, October
2021—Transhumances (featured cover), TL Magazine, September
2021—The amorphous work of Isac Elam Kaid, SCC Journal, June
2021—The Walker tower project, ArtDaily USA, February
2020—Behind the scenes: Isac Elam Kaid ,Philia journal, July
2020—Profile of an artist: Isac Elam Kaid, Philia Journal, June
2020—Isac Elam Kaid uses discarded material to create homeware, Dezeen, USA, April
Select visual publications –
2023—Destinations, (featured cover), Milk Decoration France, Special Issue n.14
2023—Tendenze arredemento
2023—Architectural Digest Italy, June
2023—LE FORME DELLA TRASCENDENZA, INTERNI Italy, June
2023—3 Bijzondere expo’s om te bezoeken in Milaan, SABATO Belgium (digital), May
2023—Location location location, SABATO Belgium (print), May
2023—What went down at Milan Design Week, Vogue Australia, April
2023—Ten of the best things we saw at Salone del Mobile ,The New York Times, April
2023—Le location più strane da scoprire al Fuorisalone
2023—WIRED Italy, April
ELLE DECOR
2023—La città intorno e il design, Elle Decor Italy (digital), April
2023—MISTICA IN UNA CHIESA SCONSACRATA DELL’XI SECOLO, Elle Decor Italy, April
2023—Milão 2023: novos lugares para conhecer na Semana de Design, Casa Vogue Brazil, April
ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST
2023—Alles, was Sie über die internationale Designmesse wissen müssen, AD Germany, April
2023—il meglio da vedere in città, Architectural Digest Italy, April
2023—les plus belles installations vues à Milan, Architectural Digest France, April
2023—Todo lo que necesitas saber, Architectural Digest Spain, April
2023—The essential guide to Salone del Mobile, Architectural Digest India, April
2023—Salone del Mobile: An AD PRO Essential Guide, Architectural Digest USA, April
2023—米兰沉思片刻|跟随艺廊, Architectural Digest China, April
2023—米兰沉思片刻|跟随艺廊Galerie Philia游牧至, AD Style China, April
2023—至废弃教堂，发起“去神圣性”之问, SINA China, April
2023—An exhibition inspired by ‘desacralized’ architecture, HJ Hong Kong, April
2023—15 архитектурных инсталляций на Milan Design Week
2023—Decor Design Russia, April
2023—Milan Design Week 2023: самые красивые инсталляции, Interior&Design Russia, April
L’OFFICIEL
2023—Milan Design Week 2023 : Le guide des adresses incontournables, L’OFFICIEL France, April
2023—MDW 2023 Day 3: gli unexpected spot da vedere durante il weekend, L’OFFICIEL Italy, April
2023—Cosa vedere? La guida con gli indirizzi imperdibili , L’OFFICIEL Italy, April
2023—16 Architectural installations at the 2023 Milan Design Week, Archdaily USA, April
2023—Architecture inspires design week exhibition inside historic church, Designboom USA, April
2023—Best of Design week 2023, Designboom (digital), April
2023—Desacralized features pieces by Rick Owens and Faina in Milanese church, Dezeen, April
2023—Milan Design Week: 15 must-see exhibitions, ArchiPanic (digital), April
2023—Una grande chiesa in zona corvetto promette bene, Zero Italy, April
2023—There’s more to the fair than meets the eye, Atmosfera Italy April
2023—Desacralised: la mostra di design nella chiesa sconsacrata di Corvetto, Collateral Italy, April
2023—Milano, la mostra-evento in una chiesa sconsacrata per il Fuorisalone, Lapresse Italy, April
2023—The most beautiful places reinvented during Milan design week, Goodmoods France, April
2023—Milan Design Week: A roundup of upcoming projects, WWD UK, April
2023—Milan Design Week 2023: Preview, Design Anthology UK, March
2021—An exhibition of 21st century furniture in a $25 million loft, Robb Report, February