London, United Kingdom
Charlotte Kingsnorth is a London-based designer whose work blends functionality with sculpture. Exploring the intersection between the real and the synthetic world, she likes to reassemble and merge components like a chameleon morphing into new surroundings. The works incorporate mixed materials including pre-existing furniture parts, patterned timber, bark, dense textiles and patinated bronze, melded together into animalistic forms. “I’m interested in how we as humans process things through association, and like to mess with that”, she explains.
Kingsnorth often selects pre-existing chair frames, chosen for the personality and charm acquired from their past history. She approaches her work intuitively, sculpting directly around the frame and hand-stitching the bodily form with textiles. Each piece emerges as a unique, distinct character.
In 2022 she was awarded a three month residency at European Ceramic Work Center, where she explored the tactility and perversion of material states, transforming foam to ceramic. The resulting work was presented at Saatchi Gallery, London and Objective Gallery, New York, as part of her solo show Animalistic Tendencies in 2023.
Graduating from the Royal College of Art’s Design Products MA in 2012, Kingsnorth has since worked with private clients, galleries, brands and global institutions worldwide including The Bill Gates Foundation, Fendi, SHOWstudio, Tyler The Creator, Christies, The Crafts Council, The V&A in London, Holon Design Museum in Israel, Triennale Design Museum in Milan, and Saatchi Gallery in London. She has presented works in design fairs internationally including Nomad in Monaco, St. Moritz and Capri, Design Miami, New York, London, Paris and Milan, and has works in the permanent collection at Turkey’s Odunpazari Modern Museum.
