Francesco Feltrin

Francesco Feltrin is an Italian designer based in East London; whose practice is predicated on making. Descended from a family of carpenters, his approach is firmly rooted in the practical and experimentation of new methods of making. He studied Architecture in Trieste, followed by a masters in Design Products at Royal College of Art.  

Francesco Feltrin, Future Heritage 2018 Alumni

Before his MA at the RCA, Feltrin worked mostly in wood, both on his own and in collaboration and on projects with other artists and designers. Since his studies at the RCA, he has worked principally with resins and ceramics. The latter is a particular passion, which he is currently exploring in detail, inventing new methods and tweaking old ones, to create new ways of producing batch-based ceramics.  

While continuing his own practice he also works with designer Martino Gamper and teaches design at Staffordshire University. Teaching acts a form of continuous research, which stimulates his own studio development. He works extensively with developing new moulding techniques. His interest in moulds as a design process is piqued by the need to make quick decisions that will have functional applications. 

Francesco Feltrin Work

At Future Heritage

Future Heritage was a great opportunity for Feltrin to show his work in London, alongside a selection of some of the best UK Designers. For Future Heritage Feltrin made a series of stools and a coffee table, as a development of his project ‘Burnout.’ This project, started as an analysis of the surface language achievable with cement-based materials, which can be cast in many different forms. The idea was to find a clever and innovative way to use concrete for producing small scale design objects. The project was influenced by French philosopher Gaston Bachelard’s essay “The Psychoanalysis of Fire,” in which fire is defined as ‘something between science and poetry.’ This is exactly where Feltrin places his work. In this project fire was used as an original tool for carving his pieces. 

“I love to improvise, with whatever tool, it doesn’t matter. Quick decision and functional solutions are mandatory in a good project. I have a natural predisposition for experimentation: I normally find my way to shape an object. I need to go beyond traditions, to be creative, original, unpredictable and to constantly push the boundaries.”   - Francesco Feltrin

Current work

Since Future Heritage 2018, Feltrin has exhibited work at the London Design Festival 2018-2019, Collect 2019, 100% Design and Salone Satellite 2019. Projects that should have taken place this year but were delayed by Covid-19, include exhibiting in Leipizig Echt Alt, in Dubai and again at Salone Satellite in 2020. During the autumn of 2019 he undertook a residency at Atellier Luma, Arles, with Martino Gamper studio. He worked on several projects using biomaterials designing some areas of the Atellier’s park. 

Francesco Feltrin Work

To find out more about Francesco Feltrin visit his website.

If you would like to make an enquiry about commissions, get in touch here.