Magic House Artist Mugs: Alake Shilling

A collectible mug featuring artwork by Alake Shilling, created in collaboration with creative director Darren Romanelli and Milan-based studio OBJECTS ARE BY. Produced in a limited edition of 300.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Born in 1993 and currently based in LA, Alake Shilling’s childlike pop aesthetic and storytelling are infused with humor, nostalgia, and joy. Her ceramics and paintings of characters, flowers, and fauna of are part of a fantastical world inspired by influences from folk art, pop culture, outsider art and fairytales. Animals hold symbolic power in many cultures, and for Shilling, they serve as a vehicle for the exploration and expression of her inner emotions.

The mug features Shilling’s 2020 painting “Spotty Dotty Dog House,” a colorful depiction of a dog sitting outside under a blue sky, surrounded by flowers. The dog’s home is in the background, a comforting presence even as the dog looks beyond to the outside world. 

Shilling writes: “This artwork is as much about you as it is about me. It is about self exploration through sublime storytelling—ultimate, undeniable pleasure and satisfaction. The shapes are soft, the colors vibrant, and the figures are reminiscent of childhood stuffed animals. The cute pup intently gazes off into the distance with a suspicious sun looming over the land. The viewer can only wonder what approaches the two beyond the frame.”

ABOUT THE MANUFACTURER 

Manufactured by OBJECTS ARE BY, these limited-edition Bone-Free China mugs are designed exclusively for Magic House. They are crafted using innovative, lower-impact production methods that upcycle water and materials while avoiding any animal-derived components that typically show up in bone china. The designs are printed using a food-safe, dishwasher-safe technique, ensuring durability and lasting beauty.