Looking to add a spirit of confidence and energy to your interiors? Explore west elm's latest international collaboration--the South Africa Collection. No doubt, you’ll be completely bowled over by the lively colors and patterns used by South Africa’s vibrant design community. You'll also see why the west elm creative team eagerly embraced the playful yet sophisticated work of the individual artisans and craft collectives in Capetown, Johannesburg and other South African communities.

"It's amazing how varied the voices are there," west elm’s Creative Director Vanessa Holden told Elle Decor. "There are influences from so many different backgrounds layered on the foundational African culture. I love the idea of those multiple points of inspiration coming together."

This collaboration with 16 different South African artists is the biggest ever for west elm. "We felt so strongly about South Africa, we wanted people to be able to sit on it, eat out of it, and observe it," says Holden.

Sculptural ceramics and vessels celebrate South Africa’s landscape, wildlife and tribal motifs. Chalk-white Thorn Vases designed by Johannesburg potters Gerhard Swart and Anthony Harris of Ceramic Matters are inspired by the root ball, thorns and stem of a rose. Artful red and white wall tiles by Helen Vaughan feature her signature sgraffiato (etched) patterns of native birds, flowers and vistas. Stripes of various widths and colors appear in Vaughan’s candleholders and those of Johannesburg artist Anthony Shapiro.

Black canisters made from hand-turned ebony wood are both decorative and practical.
Handwoven Clash baskets made from lutindzi grass, repurposed cloth and beads from the Swaziland craft collective Gone Rural can also be used for storage or display.

Set the table with dazzling ceramics from Potter's Workshop. A homegrown artists' collective based in Muizenberg, South Africa, its work is distinguished by its bead-like, textured patterns of hand-painted ceramics. These distinctive patterns are also found in coordinating linens and throw pillows in charcoal and red. If you're looking for dinnerware in a more neutral colorway, consider the faceted pottery by Mick Haigh or the all-white sculpted stoneware designed by Loren Kaplan and inspired by West African Venda and Elim village potters.

Other benches and occasional tables become one-of-a-kind pieces when covered in traditional Kuba cloth—a ceremonial fabric traditionally woven from raffia for Congolese royalty—that bears individual character marks, unique stitching and varying dyes.

Distinctive lighting includes the charming Delft-inspired Ceramic Elephant Table Lamp by Shirley Fintz, the wooden pendant lamps from Animal Farm and the elegant Kudu Lamp inspired by a native antelope with long, spiral horns from Source.

Fortunately, you don’t need to travel halfway around the world to bring home treasures from Out of (South) Africa.

To see the entire South African Collection go to: http://www.westelm.com/shop/new/south-african-artists/

For more information on the many west elm artist and designer collaborations, visit the west elm Collaborations page.

Did you know? west elm has an entire series of videos from their collaborators on their blog Front and Main and on their YouTube channel! Check it out!