Laila Sahar Melendez, a New York City native now based in Los Angeles, is making a distinct mark in the art world with her blend of nostalgia, sustainability, and storytelling. Since 2018, she has refined her craft through oil paintings that capture the essence of her loved ones, and this year, she brings her multifaceted work to the ART021 Hong Kong Contemporary Art Fair. Showcasing her evocative Modern Macabre series, Melendez continues to push boundaries in themes of memory and impermanence.

The Modern Macabre series delves into themes of death and mortality through a contemporary lens. Embracing the macabre style, Melendez integrates modern elements and reimagined uses of everyday objects. Her paintings invite viewers to reflect on life’s impermanence, balancing dark themes with innovative perspectives.

In a new creative project with CLOT, she brings her handcrafted dolls to life, highlighting her artistic works and the new CLOT Pro Model Collection by Edison Chen. This collaboration weaves together art and narrative in unexpected ways, using the dolls as a dynamic medium to spotlight everyday stories through sustainable, character-driven designs.

While her Modern Macabre series explores introspective themes, Melendez’s Dolls by Sahar project offers a playful, tactile entry into her storytelling. “I’ve always liked puppets and stuffed animals, but in 2019 I had a dream that I made a Sesame Street kind of character, and I woke up thinking that I should actually make one,”

 Melendez shares. “Once I started creating more of these dolls, it really resonated with audiences, and I had a lot of fun making them.” What began as an independent endeavor inspired by childhood imagination has evolved into a powerful platform for collaborations like the one with CLOT. For this project, Melendez crafted 20 unique plush dolls, styling them in miniature outfits from the CLOT Pro Model Capsule Collection to highlight real-life situations and character-driven narratives—echoing the nostalgic and sustainable ethos of her broader works.

“For this collection, I wanted each doll to have a unique identity, with distinct ages, styles, and features,” she explains. “I had a lot of ideas for what the dolls could be doing. I wanted to show my characters doing things people do day-to-day, whether it’s something in their neighborhood or going out with friends.” These stories unfold in the creative video 'Pool' and through immersive displays at JUICE store locations. “The store displays are meant to capture a moment shown in the videos,” Melendez notes. “The Shanghai display captures a night out with friends, while Causeway Bay depicts a day in the neighborhood.” These setups serve as art installations, transforming retail spaces into vivid snapshots of the dolls’ relatable worlds.

Melendez’s approach to the CLOT collaboration reflects her ability to merge her artistic vision with fashion. “I treated the dolls like models that were showing off the garments,” she says, describing how she used the CLOT Pro Model Collection’s clothing to enhance her storytelling. Her creation process is meticulous: “When making the dolls, I cut out the pattern, stuff them, and insert wire. Once they come to life, I add hair and small details like fingernails or piercings,”

Melendez explains. “Then, I referenced the CLOT Pro Model Collection to craft their clothing and shoes. One doll with a simple design usually takes a few days, but this collection of 20 dolls took about nine months.” Sustainability is a cornerstone of her work. “When picking out the cloth for the skin, I like to use recycled clothing so you can see the previous buttons and seams on the body. Or another element is taking scraps and making a patchwork skin. I strive to be resourceful and eco-friendly.”

Her connection to the dolls is deeply personal. “It’s hard to pick a favorite, but if I had to choose, I’m stuck between Anaya—I love her hair, and the velvet patchwork skin is really soft—and Vince; I love the way his face and hair came out so cute,” she shares. Each doll, complete with a name and backstory, embodies her ability to infuse personality and meaning into her creations.

Looking forward, Melendez envisions new possibilities for Dolls by Sahar. “This project was a great opportunity for me to experiment with filming. In the future, I want to create a show with my dolls,” she reveals, hinting at plans to expand her storytelling into new formats. 'Dolls by Sahar' highlights her versatility, bridging the introspective depth of reality with the warmth of handcrafted characters. Through her work, Melendez invites us to connect with the vibrancy of everyday moments, proving that art can tell stories that resonate across mediums.