« Design is a form of alchemy: transforming raw materials into something unexpected. » — Tom Dixon
Tom Dixon (born in 1959) is one of the leading figures in contemporary British design. A self-taught designer, he rose to prominence in the 1980s through experimental furniture made from welded steel and repurposed industrial materials. At the intersection of sculpture, craftsmanship and design, he developed a distinctive visual language that transformed the aesthetic of contemporary furniture.
Today, his early creations are regarded as major works of collectible design and are held in the collections of numerous international museums. The Ketabi Bourdet gallery presents a selection of rare and historic pieces by Tom Dixon, offering insight into this formative period of his practice.
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Lion and Unicorn chair
« The best objects are born from curiosity, experimentation and the joy of making. »
Tom Dixon (born in 1959 in Sfax, Tunisia) is a British designer whose work has had a profound impact on the history of contemporary design. He moved to London at a young age and followed an unconventional path, far removed from traditional design schools. After playing bass in the band Funkapolitan, a motorcycle accident led him to discover welding, which would quickly become the foundation of his practice.
Entirely self-taught, Tom Dixon began producing welded-steel furniture in the early 1980s, using reclaimed industrial materials. In contrast to the minimalist design that dominated the period, he championed a raw aesthetic in which welds, irregularities and traces of fabrication became integral to the identity of each object. His creations blurred the boundaries between sculpture and furniture, giving rise to a new vision of design that was both expressive and experimental.
This innovative approach quickly attracted international attention. His collaborations with Cappellini, Eurolounge and later Habitat helped establish his work far beyond the United Kingdom, while preserving the experimental spirit of his early productions. Over the following decades, Tom Dixon also developed lighting collections, interior architecture projects and industrial objects, establishing himself as one of the most influential British designers of his generation.
His works are now held in the permanent collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Museum of Modern Art in New York, among others. Pieces produced during the 1980s and 1990s, often made in very small editions or as unique works, are particularly sought after by collectors for their rarity and significance in the history of collectible design.
The Ketabi Bourdet gallery is committed to bringing this formative period of Tom Dixon’s practice to light through a selection of historic pieces presented in exhibitions and at international fairs. By focusing on the rarest and most emblematic creations from this experimental period, the gallery contributes to the rediscovery of an essential chapter of his work, predating the development of his international brand.
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Dixonary, Tom Dixon Studio.
- Tom Dixon: Twenty Years of Design.
- Design Museum – Fifty Designers Who Changed the World.
- Publications including Wallpaper*, Domus, Dezeen, Architectural Digest et Financial Times.
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
- Victoria & Albert Museum, London
- Centre Pompidou, Paris
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York
- Design Museum, London