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: PerrierJouët, 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 –

2023 – NGVxMECCA Women in Design Commission portrait with installation by Amelia Dowd

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

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 .

PerrierJouët – 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

PerrierJouët 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

PerrierJouët 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

PerrierJouët Champagne Collectors’ Lounge, Design Miami – Scenography – HyperNature Landscape

Designart Tokyo Festival – Guest speaker

PerrierJouët 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.

KvadvatDivina 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 UniversitySummer 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 UniversitySummer 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