London’s ICA (Institute of Contemporary Arts) and Finnish Furniture brand Artek have teamed up to launch a series of artist-customized versions of the iconic Aalto Stool 60, a staple of Finnish Design by Alvar Aalto. The first edition to launch has been ‘kissed’ by American artist Barbara Kruger in her inimitable style.
Barbara Kruger Edition Aalto Stool
Using the artist’s typical sans serif bold font and red, black and white colors, the iconic Alvar Aalto Stool features the word “Kiss” on a white top with red legs.
Each stool is hand numbered and finished on the underside with the artist’s stamp of authenticity.
Barbara Kruger says:
‘This project has been a wonderful opportunity to work with Aalto’s classic piece of modernist furniture, while at the same time supporting the ICA, the first institution that offered me a one-person show of my work in 1983. I was honoured, a bit intimidated, but hugely thrilled by both the ICA and the complex and vital city that was, is, and will always be London. The memory of that exhibition, the wonderful space, the excitement and buzz of the ICA’s programme of visuality and intellectually rigorous public programming, its bookstore and crazily cool cafe, will never fade in my mind.’
Kruger’s Untitled (Kiss) forms the starting point of a new collaboration between the ICA and Finnish furniture company Artek, which will result in a series of artists’ customizations of Stool 60.
Artist Barbara Kruger’s version of the Alvar Aalto iconic Stool 60 is available in a limited edition of 300 pieces at a price of £400 (subject to change) each here.
Kruger’s Untitled (Kiss) (2019) is part of ICA Artists’ Editions, a series of commissions to support the Institute of Contemporary Arts (London) programme.
About the Stool 60:
The legs are mounted directly to the underside of the round seat without the need for complicated connecting elements. Thanks to its geometry, the stool can be stacked to save space in a spiraling tower sculpture. Manufactured in 42 production steps at the A-Factory in Turku, Finland, Stool 60 is available in a wide variety of colors and finishes. Several million units of Stool 60 and its four-legged cousin, Stool E60, have been sold, making it one of the most cherished products in the history of design.
Buy The Barbara Kruger Aalto Stool here
