Ron Arad Tel Aviv, Israel, b. 1951
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Ron Arad Studio -
Ron Arad is widely recognized as one of the most influential designers and architects of our time. Known for his daring use of materials and sculptural approach to form, he is often referred to as the “Man of Steel” — a nod to his signature medium and futuristic aesthetic.
B. 1951, Tel Aviv, Israel
Lives and works in London, UK
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His work moves effortlessly between disciplines, challenging conventions and reshaping our understanding of design.
From the outset of his career, Arad rejected architectural norms in favor of experimentation. Over more than three decades, he has developed a distinctive visual language rooted in material innovation, formal exploration, and conceptual boldness. His work has left a lasting mark on contemporary design and continues to inspire generations of artists, architects, and thinkers around the world.
Arad studied industrial design at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem (1971–1973), before moving to London to attend the Architectural Association School of Architecture. Early in his career, he began creating objects from industrial detritus and construction materials, establishing a practice defined by transformation and reinvention. This spirit of experimentation remains central to his work today.
Sheet metal — particularly steel and aluminum — has long been Arad’s material of choice. Despite its weight and rigidity, he shapes it into dynamic, fluid forms that defy expectations. His objects, whether functional or purely sculptural, balance strength with elegance, solidity with movement.
Arad’s works are held in major public and private collections worldwide and have been the subject of numerous international exhibitions. A major retrospective organized by the Centre Pompidou in Paris in 2008 later traveled to the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.
Among his most notable architectural projects are the Design Museum Holon — Israel’s first national design museum — the Yohji Yamamoto flagship store in Tokyo, and the interior design of the Tel Aviv Opera and Performing Arts Center. His large-scale public sculptures include Big Blue (London), Evergreen! (Tokyo), Kesher (Tel Aviv), Vortext (Seoul), and Spyre — a 16-meter kinetic installation created for the Royal Academy of Arts in London in 2016.
Arad has collaborated with many leading design and luxury brands, including Vitra, Moroso, Alessi, Swarovski, Adidas, Fiat, Samsung, and Kenzo. His practice moves fluidly across disciplines, always driven by a spirit of curiosity and a desire to push the boundaries of what design can be.
In addition to his creative work, Arad has played an important role as an educator. He was Professor of Design at the Hochschule für angewandte Kunst in Vienna from 1994 to 1997, and later led the Design Products department at the Royal College of Art in London, where he was made Professor Emeritus in 2009. In 2013, he was elected a Royal Academician by the Royal Academy of Arts in London.
Selected public collections:
Musée des Beaux Arts (Montreal, Canada)
Musée National d’Art Moderne/Centre Georges Pompidou (Paris, France)
Fond National d’Art Contemporain (Paris, France)
Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Paris, France)
Centre National d’Art Plastique (Paris, France)
Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, USA)
Museum of Modern Art (New York, USA)
Museum of Fine Arts (Boston, USA)
Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, USA
Victoria and Albert Museum (London, UK)
Manchester Art Gallery (Manchester, UK)
Design Museum (London, UK)
Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
Rohsska Design Museum (Gothenburg, Sweden)
Powerhouse (Sydney, Australia)
Design Museum (Osaka, Japan)
Design Museum (Nürnberg, Germany)
Neue Pinakothek der Moderne (Munich, Germany) -
Works
Ron Arad Tel Aviv, Israel, b. 1951
2RNot, 1992Polished and patinated bronze76,2 × 61 × 61 cmThe 2RNot Chair is an exemplary demonstration of Ron Arad’s mastery of industrial design and material exploration. Crafted from copper, with sections polished to a gleaming finish while others are...The 2RNot Chair is an exemplary demonstration of Ron Arad’s mastery of industrial design and material exploration. Crafted from copper, with sections polished to a gleaming finish while others are darkened, the chair appears as though it were made from two distinct materials.
The seat’s undulating contours, a signature element of Arad’s work, contrast sharply with the geometric frame’s rigid angles, an unusual feature in his oeuvre. The result is an optical illusion—depending on the viewer’s perspective, the cubic form alternately conceals or reveals the fluid, rippling interior. More than just a chair, it becomes a dynamic puzzle, offering multiple seating possibilities and constantly shifting in perception.Exhibitions
Ron Arad. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, Russia. Nov 18, 2016–Feb 1, 2017
Publications
Ron Arad. Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Moscow, 2017. pp. 34–35, 36–37, 38–39, 55.
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Tatintsian Gallery Selected
Group Exhibition, Dubai 14 Nov - 30 Dec 2022Tatintsian Selected project opens alongside two Dubai landmark events in fall 2022 – Alserkal Art Week and Dubai Design Week.Read more >
Gallery showroom will spotlight selected works by such contemporary masters as Ron Arad, George Condo, Mat Collishaw, Evgeny Chubarov, Peter Halley, John Miller and Jenny Holzer. -
Ron Arad
Personal Exhibition 18 Nov 2016 - 11 Mar 2017Read more >
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