Mac Collins (designer)

Mac Collins
Born1995 (age 30–31)
Nottingham
EducationNorthumbria University
OccupationsArtist, designer, furniture designer, university teacher
Employers
Notable workIklwa Chair, Runout
Awards
  • Cræftiga award
  • Emerging Design Medal
  • Saltzman Prize
  • The Samuel Ross Black British Artist Grant Programme
Websitemaccollins.com 

Mac Collins (born Nottingham, 1995) is a British artist and designer.[1]

Early life and education

Collins grew up in Nottingham, the grandson of Jamaican immigrants to the United Kingdom who were part of the Windrush generation.[2] His grandmother emigrated to England and worked in a factory, and his other grandparents “changed jobs so much that [he] couldn't say what they did.” His father worked as a security guard. He is the youngest of seven children.[3] He has spoken about how his family's multi-racial heritage influenced his upbringing, education, and work, stating that he is "both Black and white. And that's a precious thing: not having to choose."[4][3] As a teenager he was a graffiti artist.[3]

He attended Northumbria University, where he researched the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s, and Afrofuturism, graduating in 2018 with a bachelor's degree in 3D design.[2][5][6] As a student, he was also influenced by the work of Hella Jongerius, Enzo Mari, and Sergio Rodrigues.[7]

While still a student, he designed the Iklwa Chair for which he received the 2018 Cræftiga prize.[8] This design was later produced by the British furniture maker Benchmark.[9][10]

Work and career

The early success Collins' Iklwa chair, which the designer has described as "a throne to inspire empowerment in the face of oppression",[4] led to commissions and collaborations with British and international companies and institutions. Collins received the Saltzman prize, a £5,000 bursary, and his Iklwa, Concur, and Jupiter chairs were exhibited in the London Design Museum.[11] In 2021 he also received a "Black British and POC artist grant" from the British artist and designer Samuel Ross.[12][13]

In addition to furniture manufacturer Benchmark, his work has been edited by the Finnish brand Vaarnii and exhibited at Side Gallery, The New Craftsmen, Stems Gallery, Harewood House, the Venice Biennale, and Discovered, an exhibition at Design Museum that was curated by Wallpaper* magazine and the American Hardwood Export Company (AHEC).[14][15][16][5][4]

His sculptural piece, titled "Runout", which was exhibited at the British Pavilion of the Venice Biennale, was inspired by the game of dominoes. He described the piece as "an ode to The Limekiln, a pub in Nottingham where he plays dominoes with local Caribbean men."[17][18]

Collins lectures at both Nottingham Trent University and Northumbria University.[19][20]

He has said, "I'd like to think I'm having success regardless of my skin colour."[2]

Recognition and awards

References

  1. ↑ Pithers, Ellie (4 October 2021). "A Furniture Maker Working to Expand the Definition of British Design". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Finney, Alice (14 October 2021). ""I'd like to think I'm having success regardless of my skin colour"". Dezeen. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 Zabalbeascoa, Anatxu (16 March 2023). "Mac Collins: From graffiti artist to Afrofuturist designer". El País. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  4. 1 2 3 Burman, Sujata (23 December 2022). "Mac Collins explores identity and empowerment through design". Wallpaper. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 "Emerging Design Medal: Mac Collins". London Design Festival. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  6. ↑ "3D Design BA (Hons) at Northumbria University". Dezeen. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 13 May 2023.
  7. ↑ Bahadursingh, Nathan (16 September 2021). "Dwell 24: Mac Collins". Dwell. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
  8. ↑ "Announcing the winner of the inaugural Cræftiga prize". www.holeandcorner.com. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  9. ↑ "Iklwa Large Chair Designed by Mac Collins". Benchmark US. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  10. ↑ "In search of tomorrow's furniture design classics". Financial Times. 3 February 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  11. ↑ Dunmall, Giovanna. "10 Questions With... Mac Collins". Interior Design. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  12. ↑ Maoui, Zak (24 April 2023). "British furniture designer Mac Collins has taken his seat at the table". British GQ. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  13. 1 2 Moss, Jack (17 August 2022). "Samuel Ross announces fourth chapter of Black British Artist Grant Programme". Wallpaper. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
  14. ↑ Frearson, Amy (1 April 2022). "Mac Collins makes statement against inequality with Open Code games table". Dezeen. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  15. ↑ Hahn, Jennifer (14 January 2022). "Mac Collins wins Design Museum's inaugural Ralph Saltzman Prize for emerging designers". Dezeen. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  16. ↑ "Mac Collins". Harewood House. Archived from the original on 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
  17. ↑ Alemoru, Kemi (6 June 2023). "The artists reimagining a UK where we're all free to have fun in public". Dazed. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  18. 1 2 "Gallery of "Dancing Before the Moon" : British Council Announces Pavilion for the 2023 Venice Biennale – 4". ArchDaily. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  19. 1 2 "The Ralph Saltzman Prize 2022". Design Museum. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  20. ↑ "Furniture maker Mac Collins on heritage-led design". Courier. 7 October 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  21. ↑ Nicholls, David (28 October 2020). "Furniture designer Mac Collins is one to watch". House & Garden. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  22. ↑ "National recognition for Northumbria design graduate". Northumbria University. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  23. ↑ Morby, Alice. "In conversation: Mac Collins". London Design Festival. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  24. ↑ Clover, Jack (8 September 2021). "London Design Festival: Mac Collins wins with "Afrofuturist" wooden furniture range". Evening Standard. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  25. ↑ "'I've never shown my work in this way before': Mac Collins on his prizewinning furniture". Financial Times. 14 January 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  26. ↑ Dazed (8 December 2022). "Mac Collins on the 2022 #Dazed100". Dazed. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  27. ↑ "The Saltzman Prize: Mac Collins in Conversation with Sam Hecht". Design Museum. Archived from the original on 23 January 2023. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  28. ↑ Bertoli, Rosa (14 January 2022). "Mac Collins honoured with Design Museum's inaugural emerging designer prize". Wallpaper. Retrieved 13 February 2023.
  29. ↑ Crook, Lizzie (17 May 2023). "British Pavilion encapsulates "the incredible diversity we experience in Britain everyday"". Dezeen. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  30. ↑ "Meet the 2023 British Pavilion Artists, Runout by Mac Collins". British Council. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
  31. ↑ Heathcote, Edwin (18 May 2023). "British pavilion at Venice Biennale takes architecture beyond buildings". Financial Times. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
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