Crystal Artwork Shaped by Time, Nature, and Design
Leah Ermann
Belgian artist and designer Isaac Monté turns natural minerals into breathtaking, one of a kind crystal artworks.
Inspired by the beauty of crystals in nature, he has spent the past decade experimenting in his studio to grow each piece organically. For Isaac Monté, the process of crystal formation reflects the passage of time. Every work develops its own unique shape, colour, and texture. By blending science and artistry, he creates crystal artwork that captures light, colour, and texture in truly incredible ways.
In his studio, Monté dissolves minerals in heated water to create supersaturated solutions. He then carefully guides the crystallisation process. This allows him to shape the size, form, and colour. In doing so, he makes sure every piece is unique. Committed to sustainability, he uses 100% natural, biodegradable recipes. Ultimately, the result is a seamless fusion of technology and nature. This produces crystal artwork objects that are both functional and visually stunning.
Collaboration with Luxury Brands
Monté’s work goes beyond standalone art. His portfolio includes vases, light sculptures, wall panels, chairs, bags, and visual merchandising installations. Moreover, he has collaborated with luxury brands, bringing his expertise in artwork made from crystal to iconic designs. For Dior, he created window concepts inspired by geodes. With BULO, he crystallised a mid-century chair as a tribute to designer Léon Stynen. Finally, for Aari Bostroem, he produced a limited edition of crystallised Metropolitan glasses.
The Mineral Series: Crystal Artwork for Everyday Life
The Mineral Series by Monté brings crystals into everyday life through functional, artistic objects. Within this collection, Mini, Small, Medium, and Large vases are each shaped by the organic crystallisation process. Thus, every piece is unique. For example, Mini Vases are ideal for a few flowers. In contrast, Medium and Large Vases accommodate fuller bouquets. All vases have inner vessels to keep blooms fresh. In addition, the Crystal Bubble encases a single crystal in glass, creating a striking decorative piece. Meanwhile, smaller objects, like candlestick and tealight holders, combine sleek design with natural crystal beauty adding elegance to any space. Overall, every item in the series reflects Monté’s meticulous craftsmanship. Each piece can be appreciated as a unique form of crystal artwork.
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Leah Ermann is a South African Fashion Business student whose identity and vision are deeply rooted in the landscapes, cultures, and contradictions of her home country. Growing up in South Africa meant being constantly aware of extremes. These realities shaped her sensitivity to the world around her and challenged her understanding of fashion as something far beyond surface-level beauty. In a place where many people are fortunate simply to own a pair of shoes, Leah learned early on that clothing carries meaning, privilege, and responsibility.
Alongside this awareness grew a profound connection to nature and conservation, spending a lot of time in the bush deepened her understanding of the impact humans have on endangered wildlife and fragile ecosystems. Leah sees fashion as a silent but powerful language, a way to express identity, values, and cultural stories without words.
She is driven by a desire to explore the deeper meanings behind collections, to learn from new cultures, and to use fashion as a platform to amplify South African creativity, resilience, and humanity. Ultimately, her goal is to create work that not only reflects where she comes from whilst learning about other cultures, but also contributes to change, honoring both people and the natural world that shaped her.
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