Everything
Since its conceiving in 2014, IKEA has joined a line up of modern and contemporary artists for its annual and highly anticipated, IKEA Art Event. In the opinion of IKEA Creative Leader Henrik Most, “art should be something that is accessible and affordable to the many people around the world. We make an IKEA art collection simply because we believe in democratic art.”
For the fifth artistic collaboration, the Swedish furniture giant has joined the likes of Virgil Abloh, Craig Green, Chiaozza, Misaki Kawai, Seulgi Lee, Noah Lyon, Filip Pagowski and Supakitch. Fusing rug handicraft, avant-garde fashion, street culture and modern design, each of the eight creative figures have combined their signature style with IKEA for a contemporary rug. Whether you hang it against the wall or lay it across the floor, the pieces are sure to add artistic flair.
Commissioning local craftspeople from India and Egypt, the rugs were created in wool and other natural materials for beautifully created pieces in vision with the artist. Large rectangle styles are available while more abstract renditions in the form of animal cut-outs are also on show.
Included in the Art Event is Virgil Abloh’s highly anticipated “KEEP OFF” rug.
“I wanted an ironic take on the traditional attitude to furnishing where the living room is just a showroom, not somewhere you sit. The parental ‘don’t ruin the furniture’ kind of thing I think has really impacted how younger people think of furniture today.”
Craig Green offers up a paradiso-inspired master piece, while Noah Lyon (and one of our favourites) looks to illustrate the chaos of our interconnected world.
“This rug depicts the whirlwind of interconnected life as our world tumbles through the universe. It is inspired by the Navajo whirling log – the story of a man who encounters whirlpools and spirits that teach him things of great value to his people.”
The full Art Event 2019 rug collection will be available in stores from May 15 2019, with the exception of the “KEEP OFF” rug. Due to popular demand, the highly sort after “KEEP OFF” rug designed by Men’s Artistic Director at Louis Vuitton and the founder of fashion brand Off-White Virgil Abloh, will be first available to IKEA Family members via ballot which opened May 1.
Check out the full collection below.
