Natura Est Alitur

~She is nourished by nature

This exhibition celebrates the intimate bond between the feminine form and the natural world. Natura Est Alitur showcases a collection of ceramic sculptures that embody the essence of growth, erosion, and transformation—each piece shaped not only by hand but by elemental forces like fire, earth, and glaze. These forms echo petals, stone, water, and skin, reminding us that the body—like nature—is both vessel and force. Rooted in reverence and resilience, the work honors how the feminine is shaped, scarred, and nourished by the world around her.

UCEN Gallery, Flint, MI- 2022

Exploring female bodies and nature through unique ceramic masterpieces.

Ceramic Art

Explore unique pieces reflecting the connection between nature and femininity.

Nature's Essence

This collection captures the essence of femininity intertwined with nature, showcasing Riah's distinctive ceramic artistry that sparks conversations about the female body and its relationship with the natural world.

Golden Heart
This sculpture is a tribute to resilience, created in honor of the artist’s aunt—a breast cancer survivor of over 25 years. Titled Golden Heart, the piece features a female torso adorned with a radiant gold seam and living moss that spills through the center, symbolizing the healing power of nature. The broken line down the form speaks to the scars we carry, while the organic growth and gilded crown celebrate strength, survival, and transformation. Golden Heart serves as an homage to all breast cancer survivors and a reminder that healing is both internal and beautiful.

Corset
This sculptural ceramic corset captures the tension between restriction and organic freedom. The swirling, ribbon-like structure mimics fabric frozen mid-motion, as if caught in a windstorm. Deep blue tones and glossy black glaze flow across its textured surface, evoking veins or currents—reminders of the body's inner strength. The flower-like ruffles at the base cradle pools of melted glass, adding an unexpected softness and depth to the piece. Though traditionally a symbol of constraint, this corset breaks free from uniformity, celebrating the chaos and beauty of the feminine form. Both armor and adornment, it stands as a testament to transformation, movement, and resilience.

Hand
This ceramic sculpture is a scaled-up rendition of the artist's own hand, enlarged to three times its original size. Rendered with deep grooves and wood-like textures, the piece blurs the line between human form and natural growth. Subtle blue accents flow through the crevices, evoking the appearance of veins or water running through earth. Hand is both intimate and monumental—a quiet study of presence, gesture, and the enduring connection between body and nature.

Broken
Titled Broken, this sculptural vase is a testament to resilience in both form and spirit. Cracked, fractured, and mended at nearly every stage of its creation, the piece bears the visible history of its own becoming. Glossy white glaze ripples across organic, wave-like openings, while gold accents fill and highlight the scars—transforming what was once damage into brilliance. Despite everything, Broken endured. It holds space not only for flowers, but for survival, transformation, and the beauty of imperfection made whole again.

Ricefields
Ricefields is a functional sculpture—a hand-carved wooden table inspired by the terraced agricultural landscapes of Southeast Asia. Each level of the topographic design was carefully shaped by hand, creating flowing contours that echo the rhythm and geometry of rice paddies. The natural variation in wood grain adds depth and warmth, reinforcing the connection between human craftsmanship and the land. Both meditative and utilitarian, Ricefields serves as a reminder of labor, heritage, and the beauty of landscapes shaped by care.

Roots
Roots is a mixed-media wall piece that explores the entanglement of self, ancestry, and earth. A sinuous, feminine form rises from the center, its silhouette carved into a rich, wood-toned surface. Flowing tendrils—crafted from dark, winding elements—extend like roots and hair, connecting the body to the frame’s edges and the world beyond. Embedded moss softens the boundaries, merging organic material with the sculpted form. Roots speaks to where we come from and how we grow, honoring the unseen threads that ground and nourish identity.