Jiordan Tolli From Mash Studios
Melbourne-based Jiordan Tolli is the maker behind Mash Studios, creating handmade lighting with organic, bloom-like forms that sit between sculpture and function.
Photos STEPHANIE CAMMARANO
‘I’ve always thought of the pendants as sculptures first, but ones that just happen to hold light. I’m forever thinking about shape, balance, weight, and shadows,’ says Jiordan Tolli, Mash Studios founder.
The handmade Bloom 02 from Mash Studios comes in a range of colours for both the pendant and the cord.
Hello Jiordan—can you introduce yourself?
Hello, I’m Jiordan, the hands behind Mash Studios. I’m a mum of two from Melbourne, and (you might have guessed it!) absolutely obsessed with lighting.
Can you tell us a little about how Mash Studios first came about?
Mash Studios is a nest for handmade, sculptural lighting. I use humble ingredients like plaster and paper to form my designs and every piece is made by me. I launched Mash in 2025 with the goal of adding some functional art to people’s spaces. I started it as a way to use my hands, to be creative, and to be able to do both of those things with my kids around. When I launched, I didn’t have any great expectations, I was actually just excited to have this outlet as a new double mum. But the response has been amazing, I have been incredibly busy, and I’m so grateful.
Your work sits between sculpture and function, how do you think about that balance when you’re making a new piece?
I’ve always thought of the pendants as sculptures first, but ones that just happen to hold light. I’m forever thinking about shape, balance, weight, and shadows. I’m always thinking about the way the Blooms hold space in a room. The functional side is important too, but honestly, I’m more focussed on the other all-consuming bits!
Each light you make is one of a kind, is this a conscious commitment or something that has evolved naturally from the way you work?
It evolved naturally (it’s the nature of the materials and also the way I work). It is intuitive. I’m not bothered about making the pieces to this ‘perfect’ ideal because it is unrealistic and I kind of love that. Everything is made by hand, so the pieces always end up slightly different. Every light has its own personality and messy story.
You work with plaster, paper and acrylic… what draws you to these materials over more conventional ones?
I’m drawn to materials and textures that feel raw, unfinished and tactile. I like that they show the hands of the maker. Plaster and paper are both incredibly forgiving and you really need to get your hands dirty, which is the part that is so therapeutic to me. The process to make the lights is also slow and takes me over a week to make due to drying times and layering. I like that it isn’t fast because that’s just not the way my life is at the moment.
What does light mean for you emotionally?
Light changes everything about a space. It can make a room feel intimate, warm and calm. For me, it’s less about brightness, and more about mood. I’m always thinking about how light can soften a space and create a little quiet for my collectors.
Bloom 01 in Antique White and pendant and Burnt Orange cord.
‘Plaster and paper are both incredibly forgiving and you really need to get your hands dirty, which is the part that is so therapeutic to me.’
“I’m drawn to materials and textures that feel raw, unfinished and tactile. I like that they show the hands of the maker.”
The handmade Bloom 01 from Mash Studios in Dusty Blues pendant and brass cord.
‘I have learned to embrace the slow rhythm and it makes me value and enjoy every moment I’m making a piece.’
How do you know when a piece feels finished?
Sometimes you just know, and sometimes you don’t! Sometimes you over cook the piece and wreck it trying to ‘finish’ it. Because of the nature of ceramics, most pieces are made in stages and I will be working on a few different pieces at once so it means I have time to visit and revisit pieces before they go through the kiln. Sometimes, if I’m not sure, I just come back to it a few days later and the penny usually drops on what might be missing or what could be further worked on. I can be a bit of a perfectionist so often I labour over the details. I would say that my 80% finished is probably most people’s finished but that’s OK, thats my special sauce I think. I’m all about the details!
What does a ‘typical’ day in the studio look like and how do your children shape the rhythm of your practice?
My studio days tend to happen in the pockets of time around my kids. Kindy drop offs, pickups, nap times and everything in between. It’s very rarely a perfectly structured session and my 4-year-old son loves helping me, which always takes a little (okay, a lot!) more time. But I have learned to embrace the slow rhythm and it makes me value and enjoy every moment I’m making a piece. Sometimes I’ll spend a few hours making and other times I’m working in smaller bursts. Being a mum has definitely shaped the way I work, but it makes the process feel more meaningful.
What do you hope someone feels when the turn on your lights for the first time?
I love this question so much. I hope they absolutely adore it, I hope it creates a moment and feels like a relaxing exhale. I hope that it makes the room feel softer and warmer. Lighting can completely shift the atmosphere of a space, and I really love the idea that something that I have made slowly, by hand, can become part of someone’s everyday rituals.
A dream project for you?
I would love to create a large-scale installation, a giant cluster of lights hanging together in a big open space. Something immersive where the lights also feel like a floating sculpture. I’m really drawn to the idea of multiple pieces interacting and connecting with each other.
What do you love most about what you do?
The freedom of making something from nothing. Starting with simple materials and slowly building something that people find value in. I love seeing the lights in people’s homes and workplaces. There is something very grounding about the whole process for me.
Where would we find you on a typical Saturday…
Somewhere with my beautiful kiddies, my wonderful husband and our good boy doggo. We love being outside, in greenery feeding the goats or at the beach collecting shells. We always have so much fun whether we’re going on big adventures or doing something simple at home. It’s always so special seeing the world through Kit and Juni’s eyes. My family is my entire universe, I love our little world together.
What’s coming up for you in 2026 that you’re most excited about?
I have a few fun things on the go at the moment. I’m working on some new forms, a larger scale iteration of the Bloom series, one off experimental pieces and some lamps which has taken a lot of brain power! I’ve had the opportunity recently to work with some pretty phenomenal stylists and architects, and I’m excited to see what else will pop up for 2026. It all still feels very early in the journey so I’m genuinely excited, riding the wave and manifesting all the good stuff!
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