A modern art installation featuring a geometric wall piece, a textured bench with colorful stripes, and four dark pillars topped with round white lights.
Photography by ©DR.

September 21, 2026

Words: Rebecca Thienes

Meet Maison&Objet’s 2026 Rising Talents From South Africa

Each year, a distinguished jury of leading figures from a selected region chooses the area’s top emerging designers to receive Maison&Objet’s Rising Talent award and display their designs at the Parc des Expositions at Paris Nord Villepinte. The 2026 edition of the fair took place from September 10-14 and highlighted the new wave of seven designers and makers from South Africa, including the creative hubs of Cape Town, Johannesburg, and Durban. Craftsmanship, heritage, and modern takes on traditional forms took centerstage. Here are this year’s award winners.

7 Emerging Designers to Watch

Simphiwe Mlambo

  • A man in black clothing stands next to a modern, colorful shelving unit with plants on a wooden floor in a room with muted blue walls.
    Photography by ©DR.
  • A textured wooden bench with colorful stripes sits in front of a geometric wall art piece made of wood, metal, and patterned panels, displayed against a white background.
    Photography by ©Anne-Emmanuelle Thion.
  • A modern art installation featuring a geometric wall piece, a textured bench with colorful stripes, and four dark pillars topped with round white lights.
    Photography by ©DR.
  • Two modern floor lamps made of dark, cylindrical wood with white spherical bulbs partially enclosed by asymmetrical cutouts, standing on circular bases in a minimal room.
    Photography by ©DR.

Originally from Mtubatuba and now based in Cape Town, Simphiwe Mlambo designed elegant floor lamps made from offset cylinders of wood with a brushed two-toned finish in dark blue and brown tones atop an oxidized metal base. Also on display were benches and artwork incorporating colorful ropes.  “I believe in objects that carry meaning, capable of engaging with the modern world without losing the depth of their original story,” said the designer.

NISH

  • Person in white t-shirt sits on a dark sofa with abstract art on the wall behind them and a pink stone table with a green object in the foreground.
    Photography courtesy of NISH.
  • Two metallic chairs with minimalist, angular designs are placed on a smooth surface against a plain, beige background.
    Photography courtesy of NISH.
  • A person in a black coat stands on a city street holding a chair in one hand and a briefcase in the other, with tall office buildings in the background.
    Photography courtesy of NISH.

Cape Town-based NISH studio founder Tanisha Neill’s previous works employ many materials: solid oak and marble, plus wool and silk for her graphic rugs. Now she turns to stainless steel. The John chair comes made-to-order in six to eight weeks in brushed or polished steel and cuts a sculptural form. nish.design.com

DEFT Studios

  • Two people in black shirts sit on the floor on either side of a geometric wooden table with a wavy, checkered pattern against a plain background.
    Photography ©DEFT Studios.
  • A wooden table with a wavy, checkered pattern in light and dark wood tones, featuring two curved legs and a rectangular top.
    Photography ©DEFT Studios.

Martin Tallie and Zani Alberts of DEFT Studios met in architectural school. They now design and handmake their pieces from their creative studio in Eastern Cape as an antidote to fast furniture, including a cabinet in a graphic checkerboard of ash and walnut woods. “Our obsession is a deep attention paid to every stage of the creative and fabrication process.” deftstudios.co.za

Pinda Interior Design

  • A man wearing a white t-shirt, blue pants, and black shoes sits on white steps against a white brick wall, looking at the camera.
    Photography ©Sinomtho Msweli.
  • Wooden sideboard with a textured finish, two left-facing doors, two right drawers, four cylindrical legs, and a vertical central divider, pictured against a plain white background.
    Photography by Busiswa Chiliza and Sabelo Magwaza.
  • A wooden chest with two drawers on one side, angled legs, and a distinctive asymmetrical design.
    Photography by Busiswa Chiliza and Sabelo Magwaza.
  • Abstract wall textile with geometric shapes in gold, red, and blue above a red angular desk and a small black stool in a minimalist white space.
    Photography ©Anne-Emmanuelle Thion.
  • A geometric black wooden chair with zigzag cutouts sits in front of a textured, patterned wall hanging with red and olive green shapes.
    Photography ©Anne-Emmanuelle Thion.

Originally from Umlazi and currently working in Durban, Siyanda Mbele explores engineering and the idea of repetition in his works. Zulu symbols like triangles and diamonds that reference the union of masculine and feminine often appear in the studio’s designs, including the Zulu chair and Ukhamba sideboard. pindainteriordesign.com

Meetlo Studio

  • A man sits in a dark chair while a woman stands beside him, both wearing dark clothing, with modern chairs displayed in backlit wall niches behind them.
    Photography ©Mathlatsi Mogalanyane.
  • A modern wooden cabinet with circular and rectangular patterns stands on dry grass in a hilly outdoor landscape under a clear sky.
    Photography courtesy of Meetlo Studio.
  • Wooden bench with sculpted, organic legs and a cushioned seat featuring bold, abstract orange and red lettering on a white background, set against a brown backdrop.
    Photography courtesy of Meetlo Studio.

Cofounded in 2022 by Oageng Manana and Tshegofatso Ramothibe, the Johannesburg-based studio points to their cultural heritage and spirituality as inspiration for their furniture design, including the Semoya bench with a sculpted wood base in the Dark Sky finish. In South Africa, “climate, landscapes, and natural conditions become sources of inspiration and drivers of creation.” meetlostudio.co.za

Studio Lloyd

  • A person in a white robe sits outdoors on a beige cushion, looking to the side, with dry grass and a clear sky in the background.
    Photography ©Anne-Emmanuelle Thion.
  • Woman in loose black clothing stands beside a white pedestal with wall and ceiling lights above, against a plain white background.
    Photography ©Anne-Emmanuelle Thion.
  • Round wicker wall sconce with a black cord, mounted on a white wall, casting a distinct shadow to the left.
    Photography ©Anne-Emmanuelle Thion.

Cape Town-based designer Ashleigh Lloyd creates handcrafted lighting using crochet techniques, sometimes incorporating jasper disks typical to jewelry makers into her designs. The softness and flexibility of the UV-treated rope contrasts the usual rigidity of architectural lights. “Crochet, through its natural flexibility, tactile quality, and almost meditative rhythm, offers a deeply human counterpoint to the rigidity of architectural lighting.” www.studiolloyd.com

Karlien van Rooyen

  • Woman in a white crop top holds an abstract, white sculptural vase aloft outdoors near a rocky background.
    Photography ©DR.
  • A large, perforated bronze sculpture sits on rippled sand, casting an intricate shadow with similar patterns.
    Photography ©DR.

Time well-spent as a medical scientist, climate activist, and deep sea diver lead to ethereal works inspired by coral and other oceanic elements. Selected by Ateliers d’Art de France as the recipient of this year’s coveted Craft award, sculptor Karlien van Rooyen showcased glazed ceramic works whose creation served as a healing balm for the artist. karlienvanrooyen.com

read more