The Ethnicraft Modern Shapes Editions

A collection of limited-edition, handcrafted wood sculptures created by international artists.

Belgian company Ethnicraft produces timeless furniture, decorative objects and home accessories in partnership with talented designers and experienced artisans, using natural materials to bring the designs to life for spaces as varied as homes and offices to restaurants and hotels. The brand shares its core values with Antwerp-based Modern Shapes Gallery, leading to a special collaboration. Named Modern Shapes Editions, this collection comprises minimalist wood sculptures created by international designers. Standing at the intersection between art, design and architecture, the handcrafted sculptures explore different themes but share a similar elegance and aesthetic language.

The exclusive, limited-edition works are created by a curated selection of international artists, some at the beginning of their career and others firmly established. While each have different backgrounds and skill sets, they all share a love of handcrafting in either natural or man-made materials. Every design from the Modern Shapes Editions is a minimalist, solid wood interpretation of the artists’ sculptures. Crafted by hand by artisans in Ethnicraft’s own workshop in Indonesia, these artistic pieces showcase the talent of the artisans as well as the character and beauty of solid wood.

To create the collection, Ethnicraft and the art gallery have invited artists Alban Lanore, Helen Vergouwen, Denis Castaing, Levi Hawken, ABSID, Scott VanderVoort, David Umemoto, Lucien Petit, and Brigitte Marionneau to translate their vision into collectible works of art. Some of them also double as functional objects.

The exclusive pieces explore different concepts as well as a variety of sculptural forms. For example, Lucien Petit’s work delves into architectural shapes and totemic structures; Scott Vandervoort’s creations reference the artifacts of ancient and primitive societies with a focus on themes of survival, birth, death, and community; Levi Hawken’s background in the world of graffiti lends his work a fascinating abstract quality; and duo ABSID brings together digital design and traditional crafts in sculptural compositions.

Explore the collection at Ethnicraft and Modern Shapes Gallery. Images courtesy of Ethnicraft.