A flower-shaped area rug with a multicolored abstract pattern on a stone patio in front of a doorway.

October 13, 2026

Words: Lisa Di Venuta

Photography: courtesy of Kahhal 1871 and Studio Proba.

Alex Proba Translates Sculptural Stone Forms Into Collectible Rugs

kahhal 1871 x alex proba

Last year, artist Alex Proba expanded her sculptural language with Echoes of the Infinite, a trio of carved-stone formations that drew on Egyptian cosmology, created for an exhibition near the Pyramids of Giza. “Working with natural stones made me think deeply about time, erosion, and layers,” Proba says. Now, she has partnered with Egypt’s oldest luxury rug atelier, Kahhal 1871, to translate those veined geological forms into floor coverings of wool and bamboo silk. Helmed by fifth-generation managing director Mohammad El Kahhal, the 154-year-old heritage business contemporizes ancient Middle Eastern craft to create collectible designs. The atelier’s technical know-how and Studio Proba’s signature postmodern whimsy are equally evident in designs including striped montage The Time Tapestry and faceted Bloom of Stone and The Living Delta rugs. Dueling themes of softness/hardness and movement/permanence play out in intricate hand-knotting, while variations in pile height, knot density, and fiber composition recreate the depth of carved stone. kahhal1871.com, studioproba.com

  • A flower-shaped area rug with a multicolored abstract pattern on a stone patio in front of a doorway.
    Bloom of Stone.
  • Rectangular area rug with horizontal, multi-colored bands of varying widths, some featuring distressed, textured patterns.
    The Time Tapestry.
  • A smiling woman with glasses wearing a long-sleeved floral dress and brightly colored sneakers, sitting on a large, abstract patterned rug.
    Alex Proba.
  • An area rug with an irregular, geometric shape composed of various marbled, multicolored sections.
    The Living Delta.
  • No tags selected

read more