Swedish artist and designer Mats Theselius creates his own furniture, productions, exhibitions, sets, installations, books, films, and music in addition to working in the art and design industries. Theselius attended the renowned Konstfack school of arts, crafts, and design in Stockholm and afterwards worked for a number of local architectural firms before founding his own design business.
Theselius breaks away from the functionalist style of mid-century modern furniture design. According to him, the furniture and architecture of that era gave the impression that civilization had advanced to the point where people could stand on its own without the aid of images and symbols. While others share these sentiments, the growth beyond this stage goes on without making any real strides. By contrasting different aesthetic elements and materials with a pictorial language that gives them the characteristics of items from a familiar yet foreign world, Theselius attempts to generate new pictures through his furniture in this impasse.
The National Museum in Stockholm, the Arts and Crafts Museum in Copenhagen, the Russian State Art Collection in Moscow, the Arts and Crafts Museum in New York, and other institutions have Theselius’ works in their collections. Numerous awards have been bestowed upon him, including the 1997 Bruno Mattsson Prize, the 2001 Chair of the Year award from Sköna Hem Magazine, and the 2011 Wallpaper Design Award. In 2011, Theselius was accepted into the Royal Academy.