Open Studios: Jack of All Trades
Author:Lindsey ShookTypoe Gran takes his talents from filling walls to filling rooms
Known for his showstopping public art that exudes joy through color and shape, artist Typoe Gran just unveiled an equally delightful furniture collection that transforms the iconic shapes that define his art. “I have such a profound love and admiration for design that I wanted to study as much as I could about materiality, functionality and generally how I want to respond to space in a new way that’s very different from making public art,” says Gran. “It’s similar to my art practice in that I’m always trying to respond to a space or solve a problem. With me wanting my designs to actually be functional and not just look pretty, there is this fun challenge of giving each piece a job.”
He initiated the process three years ago, allowing ample time to carefully select partners including Kvadrat and Art + Loom—who aligned with his vision and commitment to quality. “On my journey of exploring materials I found Kvadrat and learned about their rich history of collaborating with museum-level artists and how they have what seems like unlimited different fabrics, which really challenged me in a way that my art did,” Gran recalls. “And once I met Samantha from Art + Loom and learned about the level of work that goes into their pieces, I was all in.”
The furniture is fabricated in his hometown of Miami by local craftspeople using materials chosen for longevity: walnut bases, Kvadrat wool upholstery and molded composite shells, and the rugs are hand-knotted by Art + Loom’s teams using pure New Zealand wool and silk. Each piece embodies his impressive work, which has been shown in public spaces and on gallery walls, from the Pérez Art Museum Miami to the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh. “Every piece I make has the same thought process—I have to ask myself: What is the point of this and how can this connect us all in a much larger way?” Gran notes. “My work is always about world building.”
The amount of thought he puts into the design and material selections for each piece is clear. “I have such a respect for design that I want to give everything I have to it before I release anything into the world,” he remarks. “I am such a nerd about process and materials, and nothing makes me happier than playing and problem solving.” When asked if he plans to expand the collection, he proclaims, “I already have an immense amount of designs ready, so this will continue into everything from children’s rooms to outdoor furniture to wallpaper. There are no rules for me and there are no limits.”
