Jill Malek – Wallpaper art

Auteur : Esther | 10-23-2010

Jill Malek is a superb artist who creates wallpapers in addition to stationery, packaging, and textiles. Her wallpapers could be considered as a large ‘canvas’ of artwork. Their lively colors and sensational themes immediately drew me in, especially the pattern ‘Baby Elephant Walk’ from her new frequencies collection. It’s fabulous for decorating the baby’s room!

Jill’s wallpaper designs are inspired by the fluctuating patterns of frequency found in nature, such as the sounds of waves crashing, the phases of the moon, or the stages of animal life. All her designs are hand silk-screened onto the wallpapers. I love the metallic effects that are often entwined into the design playing with light throughout the day.

Not only is she a talented artist, she is also a brilliant business women as you can also find this designs on yoga mats, stationary, and a variety of books.

When did you know you wanted to become a designer?
After studying painting in college, I was drawn to graphic design because it was an interesting synthesis between communication, marketing and creativity.

As a graphic designer, have you always wanted to design for interiors?
My specialty is in print design—I have a passion for elegant type, carefully constructed layouts and invitation design. I have always worked on smaller, more intimate pieces and it wasn't until later on in my career that I not only wanted to work on a larger scale, but also wanted to work with multiple surfaces and textures. Designing wallpaper and now fabrics creates an opportunity to directly impact environments, which is very exciting to me. Pattern design has also brought me back to my initial roots as a fine artist, and subsequently people have told me they feel like they are buying works of art when they buy my products.

Can you tell us a little about how you came up with these beautiful wallpaper designs?
My initial source of inspiration came from the pigeon fancier who lives across the street from me. He would interact with hundreds of pigeons at dusk and I became intrigued with the circular movements the birds made. I also was (and continue to be) mesmerized with the way the light reflects off of the birds as they change their flight. Capturing light, and synchronized patterns of movement has since become a continuing theme in my collection.

What is your greatest source of inspiration?
I have looked at cycles of vegetation and animal movements as my main source of inspiration. Right now I am working on a series that deals with movements of the city.

Do you have a favorite among all your creations, if so why is this your favorite?
Sleeping Briar Rose is one of my favorites because it has a soft lacey quality that creates amazing texture. It is subtle but very ornate at the same time...a delicate balance that works well together.

What is your dream home?
Or what is your ideal living space? Open loft living is my ideal work/live space. My dream home is an exciting play-space mixed in with functionality and simplicity. A high-end playground if you will...

What do you like to do when you have a moment for yourself?
I am really into cooking but I am terrible at following directions. I like concocting new dishes with obscure ingredients in my refrigerator. Sometimes I hit strokes of genius…sometimes I fail miserably, but it's always a way for me to unwind and still be creative.

What are your current projects?
I am working on patterns that deal with city lights and ‘urban frequencies’. I am also getting prototypes for rugs made. This past year I teamed up with LG to create a pattern that will go on kitchen appliances. I am excited to work with different people and see my work take on new forms.