In his most recent body of work, Nagel reimagines the concept of pattern for the 21st century, pushing it beyond traditional symmetry. His vessels are sculptural expressions shaped through bold, spontaneous movements. He carves organic forms by hand in a box of sand, casting them in porcelain. In other works, he uses a saw to break down familiar shapes, transforming them into deconstructed geometric objects. Approaching the surface of the vessel like a painter approaches a canvas, to Nagel ‘pattern’ is a dialogue: a piece of tape winding across the surface, marking a line, while a brush or spray gun interacts with the form, either repeating or contrasting its shape. Unlike a flat canvas, Nagel’s vessels present a dynamic and tactile landscape, where texture and movement come alive. By juxtaposing contrast with unity, Nagel’s works articulate a pattern language that speaks to our contemporary world, redefining ornamentation for the 21st century.