Ayala Serfaty is a contemporary artist and designer who marches to the beat of her own drum. Endeavoring to blur the line between practical furnishings and sculptural focal points, her armchairs, table lamps and wall lights are as dazzling in appearance as they are functional.
Ayala Serfaty was born in 1962 in Tel Aviv. She studied fine arts at the Bezalel Academy of Art and Design in Jerusalem before moving to London, where she attended Middlesex University. After graduation, she moved back to and chose to settle in Tel Aviv. She continued painting, sculpting and studying fine art until the 1990s when she also began designing furniture.
Ayala Serfaty told the Wall Street Journal that inspiration struck in 1996 while on a snorkeling vacation at the Red Sea. Upon returning to Tel Aviv, she established Aqua Creations Lighting and Furniture Atelier and took on the designer and creative director role. Today, she is also regularly collaborating with Maison Gerard in New York City.
Serfaty's unique and handcrafted approach to furniture design and production means that each piece is entirely one of a kind. Every sculptural creation draws from an eclectic well of ancient traditions and modern design sensibilities. It can take up to six months from concept to completion.
Serfaty is perhaps best known for her SOMA lighting collection. The ethereal lamps are made from woven glass, giving them the look of organically grown crystals in underwater caves. They have a fantastically tactile appeal, which is an attribute of many of her designs.
She has exhibited at the London Design Museum, the Herzliya Museum of Contemporary Art in Israel, and Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York City. Her furniture has also been shown by Maison Gerard at the 2016 Winter Antiques Show and the 2021 Salon Art + Design. Her work is held in the collections of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
On 1stDibs, find Ayala Serfaty seating, lighting, decorative objects and more.
Ayala Serfaty, Rapa Series: Nimana White, Handmade Poof, Israel, 2022
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Rapa Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded ...
Wool, Silk
Ayala Serfaty, Rapa Series: Nimana Green, Handmade Poof, Israel, 2021
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Rapa Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded ...
Wool, Silk
Ayala Serfaty, Rapa Series: Conchas, Armchairs with Shared Ottoman, Israel, 2020
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Rapa Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded ...
Wool, Felt
Ayala Serfaty, Shastool Series: Sha Amaro, Contemporary Barstool, Israel, 2022
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Shastool Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded over organic sculptural...
Wool, Silk
Ayala Serfaty, Shastool Series: Sha Date, Handmade Stool, Israel, 2019
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Shastool Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded over organic sculptural...
Wool, Silk
Ayala Serfaty, Rapa Series: Daura & Justo, Armchair & Ottoman, israel, 2013
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Rapa Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded over organic sculptural structures, which are both artistic and comfortable. Fabricated in 2017 specifically for Design Miami...
Wool, Felt
Ayala Serfaty, Shastool Series: Shah Lime, Handmade Stool, Israel, 2022
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Shastool Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded over organic sculptural...
Steel
Ayala Serfaty, Shastool Series: Sha Pollock, Handmade Stool, Israel, 2019
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Shastool Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded over organic sculptural...
Wool, Silk
Ayala Serfaty, Shastool Series: Shah Lips, Handmade Stool, Israel, 2022
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Shastool Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded over organic sculptural...
Steel
Ayala Serfaty, Shastool Series: Sha Amaro, Contemporary Barstool, Israel, 2022
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Shastool Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded over organic sculptural...
Wool, Silk
Ayala Serfaty, Shastool Series: Sha Kurama, Handmade Stool, Israel, 2019
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Shastool Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded over organic sculptural...
Wool, Silk
Ayala Serfaty, Shastool Series: Sha Patina, Handmade Stool, Israel, 2022
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Shastool Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded over organic sculptural...
Steel
Ayala Serfaty, Shastool Series: Shah Green Plum, Handmade Stool, Israel, 2022
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Shastool Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded over organic sculptural...
Steel
Ayala Serfaty, Shastool Series: Shah Agava, Handmade Stool, Israel, 2022
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Shastool Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded over organic sculptural...
Steel
Ayala Serfaty, Shastool Series: Sha Kurama, Handmade Stool, Israel, 2019
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Shastool Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded over organic sculptural...
Wool, Silk
Ayala Serfaty, Shastool Series: Sha Rustin, Handmade Stool, Israel, 2019
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Shastool Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded over organic sculptural...
Wool, Silk
Ayala Serfaty, Shastool Series: Muare, Handmade Stool, Israel, 2019
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Shastool Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded over organic sculptural...
Wool, Silk
$7,950
H 12 in Dm 36 in
Zebra Hide Ottoman, Chocolate & Cream, Round, Contemporary, USA Made, New Hides
By Area ID
Located in New York, NY
Decorative zebra hide ottoman. Zebra hides are from South Africa and the ottoman is made in NJ. Measures: diameter is 36 inches and height is 12 inches. The mane of the zebra is very...
Zebra Hide
$4,257 / item
H 18.2 in W 25.2 in D 19.7 in
Footstool Silver Steel and Black Saddle Leather, Modern Style, Hug Collection
By Jover + Valls
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The Hug contemporary footstool and ottoman is designed and conceived with a light aesthetic, the slight oscillation of the steel rod of 12 mm i...
Brass, Steel
$4,257 / item
H 15 in W 25.5 in D 15 in
Contemporary Repose Ottoman Footstool Black Smoke Steel & Natural Leather
By Jover + Valls
Located in Alcoy, Alicante
The Repose contemporary ottoman and footstool belongs to a collection of minimalist and serene pieces where exclusivity and precision are shown in small details such as the hand-turn...
Brass, Steel
$4,156 / item
H 17 in Dm 18 in
Contemporary Modern Hygge Stool in Boucle Fabric &Travertino Marble by Collector
Located in Castelo da Maia, PT
Hygge Collection is inspired by contemporary architecture in Portugal that Speaks of its Romanesque past by honoring the antiques geometris, such as the arch and the column. Saccal D...
Travertine
$2,016Sale Price|30% Off
H 20 in W 18 in D 16 in
Swivel Clear Lucite Waterfall Vanity Stool by Charles Hollis Jones
By Charles Hollis Jones
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Charles Hollis Jones "Waterfall" vanity stool. Has been professionally reupholstered in a light chenille fabric with gold flecks. Gold castor legs all roll smoothly. Swivel base...
Lucite
Pair of Dunbar Style Ottomans with Brass Legs
By Edward Wormley
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A pair of Classic midcentury ottomans or foot stools. Very heavy and thick brass legs, in the style of Dunbar.
Brass
$2,824 / item
H 21.66 in W 26.38 in D 26.78 in
Chill Lounge Chair and Ottoman by Nanna Ditzel, New Edition
By Nanna Ditzel, Sika Design
Located in Courbevoie, FR
Copenhagen. She left in 1946, and the same year she founded her own design studio with her husband Jorgen Ditzel. The particular and ergonomic shape of this rattan chair ensures inc...
Rattan
$2,118 / set
H 30.71 in W 33.47 in D 31.5 in
Vintage P60 Armchair and Footstooll by V. Introini for Saporiti, Italy, 1960s
By Vittorio Introini, Saporiti
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage P60 Armchair and Footstool is a sophisticated piece of design furniture realized in the 1960s by Vittorio Introini (b.1935). Created for Saporiti in Turquoise Velvet. Made...
Leather, Wood
$1,719
H 14.97 in W 30.32 in D 20.87 in
ORIGINAL ViNTAGE GEORGE SMITH KILIM UPHOLSTERED FOOTSTOOL FOR 2 PEOPLE TO SHARE
By George Smith
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this lovely original George Smith Kilim upholstered two person footstool Please note the delivery fee listed is just a guide, it covers within the M25 only for the UK and local Europe only for international, if you would like an accurate quote, please send me your postcode and I’ll provide you with the exact price. A good looking well made and decorative footstool, George Smith Kilim upholstered furniture...
Upholstery, Hardwood
$8,495 / set
H 35 in W 37 in D 42 in
1980s Attributed to George Smith Textile Armchair & Ottoman, Set of 2
By George Smith
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
The beautiful rare collection is statement piece which is also extremely comfortable and packed with personality! We are delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning, signatu...
Textile, Upholstery, Wood
Poul Kjaerholm for E. Kold Christensen pk33 Stool
By Poul Kjærholm
Located in London, GB
In original condition with nice patina to the leather. Poul Kjaerholm pk33 for E. Kold Christensen. Denmark c1959 This is stamped
Steel
Natural White Fur Ottoman, Mongolian Sheepskin Pouffe
By Emily Barbara
Located in Dural, AU
What could be more luxurious than relaxing with this real fur ottoman! Whether styling a living room for seating or foot comfort or adding glam to a bedroom, this Mongolian fur pouf will look and feel amazing in any decor setting. Each fur ottoman boasts with the most beautiful and silky Mongolian sheepskin...
Sheepskin
Ayala Serfaty, Shastool Series: Shah Lips, Handmade Stool, Israel, 2022
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Shastool Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded over organic sculptural...
Steel
AYALA, Shastool Series: Shah Green Plum, Handmade Stool, Israel, 2022
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Shastool Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded over organic sculptural...
Steel
Ayala Serfaty, Shastool Series: Shah Lips, Handmade Stool, Israel, 2022
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Shastool Series consists of pieces felted by hand, recalling ancient textiles. Utilizing wool and silk, these one-of-a-kind fiber art pieces are softly molded over organic sculptural...
Steel
Dessa & Lotta Leh, Armchair & Footrest by Ayala Serfaty, Israel, 2017
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Unique armchair & footrest in handcrafted wool and silk felt by Ayala Serfaty.
Wool, Felt
Ayala Serfaty, "Shah" Unique Contemporary Stool, Israel, 2014
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
"Shah" Unique stool in handcrafted wool and silk felt from the Shastool series by Ayala Serfaty.
Akka Leh I Unique Armchair and Footrest by Ayala Serfaty
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
Akka Leh I. Armchair and footrest in handcrafted wool and silk felt by Ayala Serfaty. Footrest dimensions: Height: 18", width: 39", depth: 22". Please note this item is by c...
Metal