Ron Arad

Ron Arad was born in Tel Aviv in 1951 and moved to London in the 1970s to study at the Architectural Association. He first gained international fame in 1981 after co-founding his studio, One Off, and creating the Rover Chair—a piece of "ready-made" furniture constructed from car seats and industrial scaffolding.

Throughout the 1980s and 90s, Arad became a leading figure in contemporary design by blurring the lines between industrial production and fine art. He is best known for his sculptural use of sheet metal, seen in pieces like the Well-Tempered Chair and the iconic, winding Bookworm bookshelf. His work often prioritizes fluid, curvilinear forms over traditional right angles.

Beyond furniture, Arad has made a significant impact on architecture and academia. He served as the Head of Design Products at the Royal College of Art for over a decade. His architectural portfolio includes the striking Design Museum Holon in Israel, famous for its bands of rusting steel, and the ToHA office tower in Tel Aviv. Today, his work is featured in the permanent collections of the MoMA, the V&A, and the Centre Pompidou, cementing his status as one of the most versatile designers of the modern era.