Liam Lee’s colorful, sculptural furniture has quickly gained attention in the world of design
by Alexandra Ivancenco Mas
Blending comfort with playful, pop-art inspired aesthetics, the self-taught New York-based artist uses felted merino wool to create bold, whimsical pieces that are as functional as they are visually striking. Drawing inspiration from organic forms like fungi, flowers, and coral, his work transforms these natural elements into vibrant, tactile furniture that brings a sense of wonder into everyday life.
Though he holds a degree in English Literature, Liam’s early career in architecture and set design ignited his interest in how environments influence the human psyche. This fascination eventually led him to experiment with wool, a material that allowed him to explore both form and texture from the comfort of his own apartment. His meteoric rise in the art world has been remarkable—within six years, his work has been exhibited in galleries across New York and featured in the permanent collections of the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the Denver Art Museum. In 2023, he was shortlisted for the prestigious Loewe Foundation Craft Prize.
I have to admit, I had three favorite spaces: Childhood, Dream, and Death. Don’t get me wrong—there were countless other spaces brimming with beauty, excellence, and meaning, Luca Guadagnino has a way of weaving pure magic into our hearts. Liam Lee’s three chairs in Childhood are a testament to the joy and wonder that art, design, and imagination can bring. They serve as a vibrant reminder that creativity is not only essential to our formative years but continues to shape and transform our lives well beyond childhood.
Discover more about Liam Lee and his captivating designs at homofaber.com.
Liam’s unique approach to design involves hand-dyeing wool in bright, eye-popping colors and using needle felting techniques to sculpt the fibers into intricate, organic shapes. His surreal, vividly hued chairs – crafted by wrapping felted wool around wooden frames – are among his most iconic works. These pieces blur the line between art and furniture, evoking a playful, almost childlike wonder. One of his chairs, in shades of salmon and fuchsia, might remind viewers of flower stamens or twisting intestines, while another in neon green evokes desert cacti, and a third resembles seed pods or multiplying cells. Each piece invites a sense of semi-recognition, creating an engaging blend of natural forms and pop culture vibrancy.
By incorporating the whimsical and imaginative qualities of childhood into functional design, Liam’s furniture adds a fun, joyful element to adult living spaces. His work not only celebrates comfort and creativity but also challenges conventional ideas of furniture as purely utilitarian.
