MATS THESELIUS

Swedish designer Mats Theselius works in between the fields of art and design creating his own furniture, productions, exhibitions, sets, installations, books, films, and music. Theselius studied at the renowned school of arts, crafts, and design in Stockholm, Konstfack, later working at various architecture firms in Stockholm before starting his own design company.

Theselius separates himself from the functionalism of mid-20th century furniture design. He believes that the architecture and furniture from that time presented the perception of society as having reached a level of technological advancement that allowed humankind to stand alone, with no need for images and symbols. While others feel similarly, a development beyond this phase continues but with no actual progress. In this standstill, Theselius seeks to create new images through his furniture, juxtaposing various stylistic features and materials, and bearing a pictorial language that gives them the aspects of objects from a world we recognize yet one that is unfamiliar.

Theselius’ work is in the collections of the National Museum, Stockholm; Arts and Crafts Museum, Copenhagen; Russian State Art Collection, Moscow; and the Arts and Crafts Museum, New York, among others.  He has won numerous prizes, including the Bruno Mattsson Prize in 1997, the Chair of the Year from Sköna Hem Magazine in 2001, and a Wallpaper Design Award in 2011. Theselius was admitted into the Royal Academy in 2011.