Bas reliefs can convey a mood and tell a story through a scene on a wall, allowing us to feel connected to them and their setting. Their beauty has been admired for thousands of years and has adorned many buildings throughout history, such as the Parthenon and the Sun Temple of King Neuserre in Egypt.
Below we explore the plaster bas relief artistry of SuperStrata and of our artisans Eva Pep and Marli Arizona.
As bas reliefs are sculptural in nature with a three-dimensional form usually protruding from a flat surface, they can feel almost lifelike, and when used in interiors they can transform both the space and the viewer.
A delicate floral bas relief featured across the walls of a room might make you feel as though you've stepped into a field of flowers, while an Art Deco inspired ceiling frieze would enhance a historical building's surrounding architecture and seemingly transport you to another time period.
This art form can take on a range of designs, colors, and sheens. Everything from scenes depicting flora and fauna to geometric patterns can be made, and there is even the ability to combine multiple artisan finishes with this bas relief, such as fluted plaster and gilding.
On left: Delicate floral bas relief by Eva Pep with SuperStrata for Dan Fink Studio.
Explore this bas relief panel inspired by the homeowners’ favorite poem “Mantiq al-tair” (Language of the Birds), an artistic collaboration with Daher Interior Design and SuperStrata. Photo by Michael J. Lee.
Explore this bas relief ceiling frieze in the lobby of New York City’s landmarked and renowned Walker Tower, designed by Jonas Everets of SuperStrata for JDS Development Group.
View this one-of-a-kind Art Deco inspired bas relief panels designed by Jonas Everets of SuperStrata for JDS Development Group in the landmarked Walker Tower.
SuperStrata artisan Eva Pep is an expert at creating plaster bas relief elements, sometimes incorporating different paints, metal powders, and lacquers to achieve a desired look.
1. Bronze metallic bas relief by Eva Pep.
2. Palm frond bas relief design by Eva Pep.
1. Plaster bas relief tiles with oil paint incorporated in by Eva Pep.
2. Floral bas relief design by Eva Pep over fluted plaster by SuperStrata.
See more detail and other works by Eva Pep
While bas reliefs are typically made by carving a design out of wax or clay to make a mold for the plaster to then be poured into and set, other methods involve hand-painting the plaster directly on top of a surface. Marli Arizona creates her designs this way, either sculpting and painting the plaster onto a wall in situ, or developing the painted plaster wall panels in her studio before they are transported to their final location.
Explore this sculpted plaster bas relief wall art featuring peonies by Marli Arizona with SuperStrata in a collaboration with Janice Barta of Barta Interiors Inc.
1. See this sculpted plaster bas relief wall art in a display window for 2024 LCDQ LEGENDS by Marli Arizona with SuperStrata in a collaboration with Janice Barta of Barta Interiors Inc.
2. California desert flora scene hand-painted bas relief by Marli Arizona.
See more detail and other works by Marli Arizona
Explore this hand-carved plaster woodland bas relief frieze designed by Jonas Everets and created by SuperStrata for Robert Couturier in a New York country house.
Endless possibilities await, whether you envision a ceiling or wall displaying a full forest scenery inside your home, or want to showcase a unique design in plaster on smaller forms such as a room divider or coffee table. Whichever you decide, our artisans can create your pièce de résistance to admire for years to come.