6 minutes with Natalie Zlamalova and Laz Ojalde of AMLgMATD
We love AMLgMATD! Besides being adorable and funny, Natalie Zlamalova and Laz Ojalde are multi-talented artists and designers who’ve been collaborating for just two years. Natalie’s originally from Prague, Czech Republic (taking a detour to LA before coming to Miami) and Laz is a Miami hometown boy, educated in LA and “partied in NY.” AMLgMATD has kept busy, creating works in many forms—furniture, graphic, and product design and installation and public art and more! We caught up with them 10 days before ICFF, where their newest creation, WEBSTR (a brand-new take on 70s lawn chairs) will be shown by design sublime.
WEBSTR. Indoor/outdoor aluminum stools with vintage and new webbing to update a 70s throwback.
How would you describe AMLgMATD?
Nat An experimental collaborative studio creating art objects and environments that reflect our quirky point of view and love of unusual and overlooked materials. We are inspired by patterns and colors mirrored in the everyday world. We look at our surroundings with fresh pairs of eyes and redefine it with a bit of wit and humor.
Laz A funhouse of creativity and misadventures.
What does each of you bring to the collaboration?
Laz My good looks and sex appeal.
Nat Naturally, my intelligence and proper grammar skills.
Laz Haha… Well, with a background in product design, I like to think that I bring a knowledge of functionality.
Nat And my background in graphic design and visual art bring good understanding of form and color. Also, we both make each other aware of things we wouldn’t maybe necessarily notice before.
Laz Basically we are each other’s third arm and eye.
FAULTLINE 3.0 Bench made from laser-etched reclaimed leather and engineered maple wood.
What do you love about Miami? What are some of your favorite places in the city?
Laz As a hometown boy, I know Miami like the back of my hand but I’m still being blown away by the changes that are currently sweeping through the city. So my fav places are the ones that herald back to my childhood. The Deering Estate, the old water tower in Coral Gables, Cape Florida Lighthouse, Red White & Blue thrift store and Shorty’s BBQ.
Nat Oooooh, Shorty’s… Being still relatively new to town, I love all of the city and its… flavors. Haha. Thankfully, I have a great tour guide to show me around. What captured my heart though were all the stormy skies, one of the reasons I moved to Miami.
Miami Dolphins 50th golden anniversary tribute helmet design. We’re in Dolphin country….
Is the creative process different for you working together versus working alone?
Nat It is actually very different because you have to put up with another person’s way of thinking and attitude. In all seriousness though, it is great to have a partner to discuss ideas with, come up with new concepts and have constructive discussions.
Laz Ditto on the attitude.
Natalie’s painting, no 45. Acrylic inks, paint, ink pens and varnish on wood. 6 x 6 x 1.5 in.
You’ve worked in so many different materials and situations. How do you decide what to work on next?
Nat & Laz We don’t, most of the projects come to us. On occasion, we create self-driven work as a means of exploring ideas. Our current finished projects are based on mediums we developed in our personal work.
Laz’s design company, lmnoq, creates these. Superpox Wall Hooks, steel with chrome finish.
What is your dream project?
Nat One that will make us filthy rich. We’re talking eating-diamonds-for-breakfast rich.
Laz Developing dentures harder than diamonds.