Behind the turquoise double doors, on a leafy street in the heart of Brooklyn, lives a relentless change-maker in the design industry: a contemporary ceramist and online influencer. Even from the outside, the home of Malene Barnett radiates her design philosophy, a philosophy rooted in heritage and history—belonging, identity and color. On the inside, it’s a smart, light-filled world brimming with modern interiors: a space that takes Malene’s unabashed love affair with color up a notch.

Malene Barnett is an artist with a modus operandi. The bespoke carpet designer-turned-ceramist wants to break free from the false paradigm that Black artists and designers have little to contribute to the luxury design industry. The moment you enter her home, she sets the record straight. Her carefully curated living space is infused with island colors, African artifacts, and contemporary furniture and walls adorned with her original artwork.

By Nik Lashley

The full article is available in the 5th issue of MOYI.