Artist Laila Gohar transforms ordinary foods into extraordinary art. Her work merges culinary expertise with whimsical design, crafting delights that elevate everyday items into conversations, and she shares her insights regularly in the Financial Times column, “How to Host it”. One of her standout works includes elegant butter sculptures that mimic classical marble, revealing her deep connection to food as both nourishment and art.
Butter Sculptures: Classical Elegance in Dairy
Gohar’s butter sculptures are enchanting with their creamy textures emulating milky marble. She carves intricate forms, including elements reminiscent of ancient Greek statues and fragments of Michelangelo’s David. The sculptures carry a temporary elegance, designed to eventually adorn a slice of bread, merging art and consumption in one silky creation.
The Bread Armchair: A Cozy Illusion
The bread armchair, artfully constructed from large, glossy brioche buns, exemplifies Gohar’s unique approach. It feels both everyday and surreal, inviting viewers to sit and experience its tactile charm. A photo shows a child interacting with the piece, underscoring the playful accessibility of her work.
Giant Produce and Cake Carousels
In 2026, at Milan Design Week, Gohar, in collaboration with ARKET, designed a carousel adorned with oversized fruits and vegetables. Visitors spun atop a purple cabbage or eggplant in this delightful installation. Such unexpected scales of familiar foods suggest a whimsical journey into Gohar’s imaginative world.
Trompe-l’œil Marvels: Lobsters and Chairs
An intriguing aspect of Gohar’s portfolio is her trompe-l’œil creations, deceptively realistic. At Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Exhibition in Paris, she presented bright red chairs that appeared upholstered but were indeed edible cakes. This playful deceit is a recurring motif, inviting audiences to question reality and perceive art in unexpected forms.
Dive into Shannon Taylor’s world where miniature watercolor worlds translate into portable art, echoing Gohar’s whimsical approach.
In her culinary art, Gohar delights in subverting expectations, turning food-based creations like her artichoke swan and butter classical busts into whimsical yet deeply crafted sculptures. Her work exemplifies how food can foster engagement and joy, providing a fresh narrative to the culinary arts.
Explore how Ava Roth blends art and nature in Toronto, using organic materials like honeycomb, similar to Gohar’s food-based artistry.
Source: designboom.com
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