With an extraordinary ability to transform science and natural phenomena into objects of wonder and emotion which are also sleek, beautiful, and fully resolved, Mathieu Lehanneur has earned a place at the forefront of contemporary design. His unconventional projects combine intellectual curiosity with technical ingenuity, expanding the profession’s traditional boundaries through collaborations with scientists and research institutions.
Glossy and precisely crafted, his objects sometimes seem belong to a fantasy, or in the world George Lucas created in Star Wars. Yet their power lies in his ability to make science poetic, giving stone, glass, and light an emotional life. He pushes materials to their limits, seemingly defying gravity and giving familiar substances an unexpected presence.
His practice demonstrates how multifaceted the designer’s role has become, bringing together scientific inquiry, technological experimentation, craftsmanship, and an understanding of human perception. It also reveals how radical experiments with materials can produce functional objects that transform both interiors and our experience of them.
I was honored to host Mathieu Lehanneur for a talk at the Park Avenue Armory.
