Fredrikson Stallard

Fredrikson Stallard is an artist and design duo composed of Swedish designer Patrik Fredrikson (1968–) and British designer Ian Stallard (1973–). They are known for highly theatrical collectible sculptures and furniture in which the expressive vitality of materials—shaped into unpredictable twists and forms—takes precedence over functionality or figurative intent. Their most compelling creations seem to emerge directly from the depths of the earth or from deep space, resembling fossilized rocks or meteorite fragments of astonishing beauty. Based in London, the city where the duo met in the 1990s while studying at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, Stallard specialized in ceramics while Fredrikson focused on furniture design. Their collaboration, which had already taken shape sporadically in earlier years—most notably with the Log Table (2001), now part of the permanent collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum—became formalized in 2005 with the establishment of a joint studio. From the following year onward, they were represented by the David Gill Gallery, one of the world’s leading design galleries, for which they soon became among the most prominent artists. Featured in numerous solo exhibitions worldwide, Fredrikson Stallard were selected in 2010 by the Financial Times among the top ten designers of the decade. Among the major companies with which they have collaborated are Swarovski, for whom they created limited-edition chandeliers and sculptures, and the Italian brand Driade, which took on the challenge of translating their distinctive “magic touch” into industrial design.|