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, Shastool Series: Sha Thor, Contemporary High Stool, Israel, 2014
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...
Metal
Modern Curule Stool
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Modern curule stool with a button tufted leather cushion seat above a pewter-finished iron curule form base with gilded accents. Dimensions: 20" W x 16" D x 21" H.
Iron
Lamby Stool
Located in Paris, FR
Stool Lamby with solid wood structure, upholstered with foam and covered with removable polar fabric.
Foil
Basurto 01 Contemporary Wooden and Fabric Stool
By Difane, Colección Estudio
Located in Ciudad de México, CDMX
A tribute to the architectural style that characterized Mexico City during the mid-20th century. Inspired by its lines, symmetry, volumes and shapes, each piece is a miniature abstraction of the buildings from that period, allowing to have at home a city in scale. Basurto 01...
Hardwood
$962 / item
H 17.33 in W 23.63 in D 14.97 in
Contemporary pi Stool, Ebonised Oak Frame, Natural Danish Cord Seat
By par-avion co.
Located in Norwich, GB
Our iconic pi stool range draws its inspiration from the 20th century modernist idiom, Scandinavian Modern design, Danish furniture, and Japanese aesthetics. ...
Papercord, Wood, Oak
$890 / item
H 17.33 in W 23.63 in D 14.97 in
Contemporary pi Stool, Fumed Oak Frame, Natural Danish Cord Seat
By par-avion co.
Located in Norwich, GB
Our iconic pi stool range draws it's inspiration from the 20th century modernist idiom, Scandinavian Modern design, Danish furniture, and Japanese aesthetics....
Papercord, Oak
$1,165 / item
H 17.33 in W 23.63 in D 14.97 in
Contemporary Pi Stool, Ebonised Oak Frame, Black Danish Cord Seat
By par-avion co.
Located in Norwich, GB
Our iconic pi stool range draws it's inspiration from the 20th century modernist idiom, Scandinavian Modern design, Danish furniture, and Japanese aesthetics....
Papercord, Wood, Oak
Custom Ottomans or Stools
Located in Dallas, TX
We can make as many as you need and upholster in any fabric of your choice. Here are a few examples we upholstered in a Paul Smith stripe and fabric...
Upholstery
On Hold|$663
H 17.72 in W 21.66 in D 13 in
Black Piano Stool From the Early 20th Century with Upholstered Seat
Located in Opole, PL
Black Piano Stool From the Early 20th Century with Upholstered Seat A wooden stool from the early 20th century with a soft upholstered seat and adju...
Wood
Mid Century X Stool
Located in Westwood, NJ
Mid Century X Stool, inspired by traditional Spanish ironwork, the base is fabricated from steel and finished in a light, champagne patina. The bo...
Metal
Moroccan Inlaid Stools
By Carlo Bugatti
Located in Atlanta, GA
Moroccan inlaid stools, in the manner of Carlo Bugatti, Morocco, 20th century. We have two pairs available. They are priced at $1800 per pair.
Stone
Nodo Cotton Stool
By Giobagnara
Located in Milan, IT
With its playful and unique design, this stool will be an eye-catching addition to a modern and eclectic interior, where it can be used to add extra seatings to a living room, study, or kid's room. Aptly names "knot" in English, this piece boasts a large yarn ball...
Textile
$10,495 / item
H 20.48 in W 19.3 in D 19.3 in
Contemporary Round Shape Fur Atlas Stool by Pietro Franceschini
Located in Geneve, CH
Fur atlas stool by Pietro Franceschini. Sold exclusively by Galerie Philia Manufacturer: Stefano Minotti Dimensions: W 49 x H 52 cm Materials: Fur Available materials: Lamb/bouc...
Fur
"Shah" Unique Contemporary Stool by Ayala Serfaty
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
"Shah." Unique stool in handcrafted wool and silk felt from the Shastool series by Ayala Serfaty.
Metal
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.
"Shah" Unique Contemporary Stool by Ayala Serfaty
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
"Shah" Unique stool in handcrafted wool and silk felt from the Shastool series by Ayala Serfaty.
"Doula" Unique Contemporary Stool by Ayala Serfaty
By Ayala Serfaty
Located in New York, NY
"Doula." Unique stool in handcrafted wool and silk felt from the Shastool series by Ayala Serfaty.
