The Company We Keep: Tahni Bouhadana

Step inside the Amsterdam home of ceramicist and sculptor Tahni Bouhadana. Originally from Melbourne, Tahni's practice is deeply informed by craftsmanship, materiality and a lifelong connection to making. Working across ceramics, resin and sculpture, her pieces explore form, ritual and the quiet relationship between objects and the spaces they inhabit.

Now based in Amsterdam, Tahni has created a home that reflects the same thoughtful sensibility found within her work-layered, tactile and deeply personal. Filled with collected objects, natural materials and meaningful pieces gathered over time, the space balances creativity with calm.

01 Tell us a little about yourself and what you do.

I was born in Melbourne, Australia and am one of three sisters. I live in a world of art, craftsmanship and design, specifically through the lens of ceramic and sculptural processes.

02 What prompted your move from Melbourne to Amsterdam, and how has it shaped your practice?

I studied a semester of ceramics at the Gerrit Rietveld Academie in 2024. I didn’t have many expectations for the city itself, but I knew my studies would inspire me. Amsterdam turned out to be a wonderful place for me, and my time at Rietveld deeply influenced my current practice. I came back to Amsterdam last year for a short visit and decided to make this current stay a longer move for the summer. My practice has become freer and more design-focused since being here.

03 How would you describe your home in three words?

Soft, warm and fragrant.

04 Are there any objects in your home you return to or keep close?

Porcelain wheel-thrown bowls beside my bed. Santa Maria Novella Mellagrano scent sculpture. Fine white tapestry I wove during my studies last year. Art and design books from Amsterdam book store, Antiquaariut Brinkman.

05 Where do you find inspiration beyond your studio in Amsterdam?

I find a lot of inspiration in the way restaurants and bars are decorated. Natural spaces like gardens, rock formations and water also give me a wonderful perspective for expressions of colour, form and space.

06 What does a typical day in Amsterdam look like for you?

I haven't settled into a typical day to day just yet so the answer is yet to be discovered. An ideal summer day however involves a slow morning, coffee and brunch at Cafe de Pels, home/studio work time, a wine on a terrace with a friend, rolling into dinner set up on a table overlooking the Canal.

07 Where are your favourite places to eat, drink, or gather in the city?

Buffet Van Odette

Patisserie Holtkamp

Cafe de Pels

Toscanini

Bak

Scheepskamel

Carmen Amsterdam

Any park!

08 What are you reading, listening to, or collecting right now?

Listening to TUL8TE, Sherine, Drake, J Hus, PNL, Zamdane.

9 What’s next for you?

I will be based in Amsterdam and traveling until November, then back to Melbourne for the southern hemisphere's summertime with an incredible amount of exciting projects and elements to explore! I miss my home studio dearly - I think having time there to process the experiences and inspirations collected over this European summer will be really motivating.