Bethan Laura Wood has run a multidisciplinary studio since 2009 characterised by materials investigation, artisan collaboration and a passion for colour and detail. Residencies and location-based projects have become an important factor in her design process, often working in response to her location, in collaboration with local manufacturers, or reflecting back into her work the visual and material culture particular to that area. Bethan is fascinated by the connections we make with the everyday objects that surround us and, as a collector herself, likes to explore what drives people to hold onto one particular object while discarding another. Bethan explores these relationships and questions how they might become cultural conduits. She is interested in critical approaches to achieving sustainability within mass consumption and the production-driven context of the design industry.
Bethan Laura Wood obtained a MA in Design Products at the Royal College of Art, under the tuition of Jurgen Bey and Martino Gamper. Since 2011 she has worked with the prestigious Nilufar Gallery to showcase her self-directed, limited edition and one-off works. Bethan has been commissioned by and produced named collaborations with a variety of international partners including: Perrier–Jouët, Rosenthal, Abet Laminati, Moroso, Valextra, Kvadrat, Bitossi Ceramiche, Design Miami, Tory Burch, CC-Tapis, Tolix Peter Pilotto, Hermes and Dior. Her work has been exhibited in institutions including: Victoria and Albert Museum; Swiss Institute New York; Daelim Museum, Seoul; Museum of Contemporary Art, MOT, Tokyo; ICA London and the Design Museum London. Bethan has works included in the permanent collections of Wellcome Collection, London (Epidemic Jukebox in partnership with Kin design); V&A, London (Toothpaste bag for Valextra); Dresden State Art Collections, Germany (Friends bed); Abet Laminate Museum, Italy (Playtime table); and Mudac, Switzerland (Totem No.5) and most recently The Art Institute of Chicago (Stain), SFMOMA (Criss Cross Kite), and National Gallery of Victoria (Kaleidoscope-o-rama).
Throughout her career Bethan has sought to engage with the educational system by teaching and delivering lectures and workshops at many well-known universities including: RCA, ECAL and Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. Bethan has been invited to run public workshops at Boisbuchet, V&A, Tate Britain, Vienna Design Week, IN Residence, Design Shanghai, and appeared as a guest speaker at many international fairs around the world from Tokyo to Toronto.
Portrait images –
2024 -Travelling bluestocking installation Milan by Alejandro Ramirez Orozco
2023 – Kaleidoscope-o-rama bookcase by Emanuele Tortora
2023 – Studio Visit by Mark Cocksedge
2023 – Casa Gilardi for cc-tapis by Alejandro Ramirez Orozco
2021 – Ornate solo show by Michele De Andreis
2021 – Home Visit by Mark Cocksedge
2021 – Custom Eco Box for Perrier Jouët by Mark Cocksedge
2021 – Hot Rock Portraits for cc-tapis
2019 – Studio portrait by Alexia Antsakli Vardinoyanni
2018 – HyperNature portraits commissioned by Perrier Jouet
2018 – Limonta archieves by Alessandro-Paderni
2017 – Studio visit 1 & 2 by Anthony Lycett
2016 – Studio shoot by Retts Wood
2015 – ICON shoot Catherine Hyland
2013 – Mexico residency by Fernando Laposse
2013 – Aram gallery by Jake-Curtis
2013 – Aram Gallery by Fernando Laposse
2011 – Design Miami By Jamies Harris
2011 – Self Style 1-3 by Anthony Lycett
2011 – Pietro’s workshop by Ruy Teixeira
2010 – Street portraits Ellis Scott
2010 – Street portraits Ellis Scott
2005 – Carousel by Polly Borland
Selected Awards and Events
2023
NGVxMECCA Women in Design Commission – Kaleidoscope-o-Rama bookcase and Carpet (acquired for permanent collection)
Private commission- laguna Totem
Kaldewei – (named collaborator) – Avocado Dreams
2022
Private commission – Meisen Vanity ‘Pony’
PAD london – Nilufar Gallery – Meisen Caterpillar
Group show – Collaberation with Jochen Holz – Martino and Friends – Our Lady of Guadalope
1882 – (named collaborator) – Disco Gourds – party table wear
Christopher Farr – (named collaborator) – Jelly Salad carpet
Barbini – (named collaborator) – Tomato Mirror
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art – Convesation Pieces – Exhibition – Criss Cross Kite chandelier
CC-Tapis – (named collaborator) – Euphorbia Collection
Poltranova – (named collaborator) – Terrazzo – textile for the SUPERONDA sofa
Nilufar Gallery, A summer Room – new works – Endless Meisen , Trellis column, totem no.11.
The Drawing Center NY – The Clamor of the Ornament – Sketchbooks, Toothpaste handbags
India Design Festival – Design Seminar – Guest Speaker
2021
Dubai design week – Women in Design – Exhibition – Super Fake Rugs & Guest Speaker
Dior, Miss Dior 12 women artists exhibition (named collaborator) – Flower Folly
Nilufar Gallery, Solo Show – Ornate – celebrating 10 years of collaboration with Nilufar Gallery – Ornate, Meisen, BonBon and Aperitivo .
Perrier–Jouët – window display design & limited edition Eco Box (named collaborator) – Coloured in
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, Accessions Committee Fund Purchase – Criss Cross Kite chandelier
The Art Institute of Chicago , acquired for Permanent Collection – Stain willow pattern
Bitossi Museum – Opening exhibition – Guadalupe Vase & drawings
2020
V & A museum London – Exhibition Bags: Inside Out – Toothpaste bag
V & A –Toothpaste bag designed for Valextra (acquired for permanent collection).
EDIDA design awards – tableware – WINNER – Tongue for Rosenthal
Wallpaper* – design awards best afternoon tea – WINNER – Tongue for Rosenthal
German Design Awards – outstanding Product – WINNER – Tongue for Rosenthal
IDS Toronto Canada – Guest speaker
Maison Object – virtual lecture series – Guest speaker
2019
Seoul Design Festival_Design Seminar – Guest Speaker
Perrier–Jouët Frieze dinner installation at the ICA london – Scenography – HyperNature harvest
The Welcome Collection, Being Human – permanent gallery – commissioned project Epidemic Jukebox
Beazley Designs of the Year – The Design Museum London – NOMINATED – Super Fake with CC-Tapis
EDIDA design awards – floor covering – WINNER – Super Fake with CC-Tapis
The ELLE Decoration British Design Awards – floor covering – WINNER – Super Fake with CC-Tapis
The ELLE Decoration China – floor covering – WINNER – Super Fake with CC-Tapis
The ELLE Decoration Japan – floor covering – WINNER – Super Fake with CC-Tapis
Perrier–Jouët Champagne Terrace Masterpiece – Scenography – HyperNature herbarium
Solo Exhibition inaugurating new Nilufar 25 Exhibition Space, Milan – Details.
Rosenthal – limited edition Tea sets – Rhythm and Tongue
2018
Perrier–Jouët Champagne Collectors’ Lounge, Design Miami – Scenography – HyperNature Landscape
Designart Tokyo Festival – Guest speaker
Perrier–Jouët Champagne – Commission – HyperNature Sculpture
Moroso – Milan Showroom solo installation for Salone – Mono Mania Mexico
CC-Tapis – Rug Collection - Super Fake
Valextra – SS18 collection – Toothpaste
ECAL University – Masters in Luxury – Juror
2017
Peter Pilotto – Commission Ready-to-Wear A/W 2017 Townhouse installation – Sputnik floor lamps
THE DESIGN PRIZE by Design Boom – In the Artistic Realm Award – SHORTLISTED.
Bijenkorf and Rijksmuseum Museum – Room on the Roof Residency Amsterdam – Afterparty Sweet Dreams in collaboration with the TextielMuseum, Tilburg
Nilufar Gallery – Salone – Trellis Collection
G.F.Smith paper – Hull City of Culture – Seaweed kites installation
ECAL University – Masters in Luxury – Project Tutor
Design Shanghai – Guest speaker
Fabrica, Italy – Guest Lecture
2016
The British Land Celebration of Design – Design Medal – Swarovski Emerging Talent Award – WINNER
Hermès – Geneva and Zurich flagship store window installation designs – Nature at Full Gallop
Dresden State Art Collections – Friends + Design Exhibition – Phillip’s Bed (acquired for permanent collection)
Bitossi Ceramiche – Vase collection – Guadalupe Vases
Nilufar Gallery – Salone – CrissCross, Hula and Melon Tables –
ECAL University – Masters in Luxury – Project Tutor
2015
Hublot Design Prize – FINALIST.
Tory Burch and Wallpaper*magazine – Touring Installation –Milan, Munich, New York – Canapé
Nilufar Gallery – Salone – Temple Collection
ECAL University – Masters in Luxury – Project Tutor
Boisbuchet – workshop – Lolly folly with Fernando Laposso
2014
Dulux Colour Award – Best Use of Colour in the Arts and Contribution to Colour – NOMINATED.
Kvadvat – Divina celebration exhibition, Milan Salone – Guadalupe Daybed
Hermès – Christmas windows UK stores – Under the Tree
Hermès – Summer windows Hermès, UK stores – Fruits of Labour
FROM-TO -Designer in residence Vicenza – Rainbow with LineaSette
ECAL University – MA Product design & Masters in Luxury – Project Tutor
CSM – MA various – Tutorials
2013
Abet Museum – Playtime Table – (acquired for permanent collection).
Design Week Award – Rising Star – WINNER.
Designer of the Future Award – Design Miami – WINNER.
Ketel One Modern Craft Project – UK Awards – WINNER.
Nilufar Gallery – Salone, Milan- Hot Rock Cabinets & Criss Cross collection extension.
Aram Gallery, London – Solo Show – ZigZag – CrissCross
ECAL University – MA Product design & Masters in Luxury – Project Tutor Camper & Hermes
RCA – Design Products – Lecture
Tate Britain in collaboration with CSM – Lecture & workshop
Bath School of Art and Design – Lecture & Open Critique sessions
V & A – late – Furniture Museum – talk
2012
Blickfang – Select – Chosen by Jamie Hayon & Blickfang Award – Silver Zurich – Bronze Copenhagen
MUDAC – Totem No.5 – (acquired for permanent collection).
Attended Diamond Jubilee Gala, Royal Academy of Arts, London in the presents of the Queen.
The Design Museum London -Designs of the Year–Product Category – NOMINATED – Totem
The Design Museum London -Designs of the Year– Furniture Category – NOMINATED – Moon Rock
Nilufar Gallery – FIAC exhibition – Particle Construct
ECAL University – MA Product design & Masters in Luxury – Project Tutor Baccarat & self set
Kingston University – tools lecture series- Lecture
IN Residence – Turin – Lecture and workshop
Venna Design Week – LAB – installation Workshop & Lecture w/ Oscar Lessing
Tate Britain – Migrations – Lecture
V & A – late – Best of British – workshop w/ Fabien Cappello
Central St Martin – Bethnal green workshops – Tutor
2011
Nilufar Gallery – PAD London – Playtime, Spaghetti Junction Tables
Nilufar Gallery – Salone , Milan – Totem and Moon Rocks Collections
Wallpaper*magazine – Handmade Exhibition, Milan – Playtime, low
PIP / ICA – workshops
2010
AAA Festival Dell’Artigianto – Designer in Residence, Vicenza.- Totem , Pivot and Push .
Foundazione Claudio Buziol Designer in Residence, Venice. – Seamless, Sweetmeat, Entwined and confetti
Kingston University – Summer School – Interior Architecture week – Workshop leader
Kingston University – Summer School – Three Dimensional Design -One day work shop – Workshop leader
University of Brighton – Lecture & Open Critique session
2009
Design Museum – Designer in Residence, London – Particle stack
Muf Architects, London – Permanent public outdoor Floor at Arboretum, Barking
Kingston University – Summer School – Interior Architecture week – Workshop leader
Kingston University – Summer School – Three Dimensional Design -One day work shop – Workshop leader
University of Brighton – Lecture & Open Critique session
2008
Kingston University- Summer School – Interior Architecture – workshop leader