Sometimes a lamp is more than just lighting — it’s sculpture, tribute, and design statement all in one. That’s exactly what drew my attention to the Ellsworth Lamp when I first encountered it at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) in 2023.
Designed by Brooklyn-based artist and designer Hannah Bigeleisen, the Ellsworth Lamp represents a pivotal moment in her creative practice. Originally trained as a sculptor, Bigeleisen began experimenting with functional objects, and the Ellsworth became one of her first lighting designs — a piece that bridges the worlds of fine art and everyday utility. Continue reading Eye On Design: Ellsworth Lamp By Hannah Bigeleisen→
Completed in 1972 by architect Kisho Kurokawa, Tokyo’s Nakagin Capsule Tower was one of the most radical expressions of Japan’s Metabolist movement. Designed as a living, modular organism, the building consisted of prefabricated capsules meant to be replaced over time — an architecture of flexibility, impermanence, and futurist optimism. In reality, the capsules were never updated. Aging infrastructure, rising maintenance costs, and changing safety standards eventually led to the tower’s closure and demolition in 2022, transforming it from visionary landmark to architectural legend. Continue reading Eye On Design: Nakagin Capsule Tower Commemorative Lamp→
French designer Mathieu Lehanneur has long blurred the line between art, science, and nature — and his sculptural pendant lamp Guernica is no exception. Inspired by the organic beauty of a flower, Lehanneur began by 3D-scanning an iris blossom, digitally manipulating its form, and then realizing the piece in ceramic. The result is a luminous object that appears to bloom midair, its soft, petal-like curves both delicate and defiant. Continue reading Eye On Design: Guernica Pendent Lamp by Mathieu Lehanneur→
Eric Schmitt’sIn Love standing lamp, created for Ralph Pucci, is more than a lighting fixture — it’s a monumental sculpture that radiates emotion as much as illumination. At nearly six feet tall and more than three feet across, the piece commands attention, occupying space like a living presence rather than a decorative accessory.
Among the standout pieces at the recent Boutique Design NY (BDNY) show was a lamp that masterfully blended art, function, and nostalgia — a brushed steel-finish stick table lamp designed to evoke the illuminated essence of a traffic signal. This bold and imaginative design, featured in La Corsa Lounge (booth #1559), proved to be much more than a conversation starter. Continue reading Eye On Design: La Corsa Lounge Automotive-Inspired Lamp→
