The calabash-shaped Stellar – created by artist Zizipho Poswa for Indigenus – is anchored in the soulfulness that Africa brings. We spoke to Indigenus about this collaboration that feels like a return to its roots…
Zizipho Poswa is a South African sculptor and ceramic artist based in Cape Town, internationally recognised for her monumental ceramic and bronze sculptures that celebrate African womanhood, cultural heritage, and ancestral knowledge. She draws deeply from her Xhosa roots, transforming traditional rituals, hairstyles, and stories into powerful contemporary artworks.
Image credit: Indigenus
Indigenus was drawn to the particular design by Poswa because of the universal quality of the Stellar’s shape, which appears in cultural histories around the world, from Africa and Europe to the Americas and beyond. Believing that Africa offers so much in terms of vessels it felt like the right time to return to producing something that is both truly African whilst resonating with the brand’s primarily Western markets.
“We wanted a planter design with an anchoring soulfulness that Africa brings, and Zizi was the obvious choice for us, especially given the beautiful large-scale pieces she has been creating more recently. The shape we were interested in was also very present in her work, so it seemed like a natural fit.” commented the team at Indigenus
Image credit: Indigenus
Where Heritage and Home Meet
According to Poswa, “The Stellar collection is a functional tribute to personal memory, my cultural heritage and the enduring warmth of home. Named after my late mother, Stella, true to the meaning of her name, she remains my guiding light.
This collection bridges cultural legacy and personal memory. By shaping contemporary planters from the silhouettes of African traditional beer pots as a sanctuary for growth, these pieces carry forward both the communal warmth of my heritage and my mother’s love for nature.”
Earthy and textural
With texture and evidence of handwork becoming more important in design, this design offered the opportunity to combine these elements and simultaneously stretch the team to create a handmade, textural planter that was repeatable in production. The calabash-shaped Stellar is anchored in the soulfulness that Africa brings
Stellar is designed for interiors, exteriors, hospitality, residential, and corporate settings. It works well as individual statement pieces and is striking when grouped. The Stellar range is best suited to warm, earthy tones.
Stellar shines a light on the Indigenus focus on collaboration, and its committment to constant refinement alongside a willingness to be courageous, curious and experimental with natural materials and new designs. All materials are sustainably sourced, and the planters are made by hand.
Indigenus is one of our Recommended Suppliers and regularly features in our Supplier News section of the website. If you are interested in becoming one of our Recommended Suppliers, please email Katy Phillips.
Main image credit: Indigenus
