Created in limited editions and sometimes as unique pieces realized by commission, these light sculptures by contemporary designers are expressive, powerful, provocative  and beautiful as art objects. The designers have used the traditional idea of a suspension light and a table light as a canvas to explore ideas and space and therefore calling us to question and expand our ideas about the role that lighting can occupy in an interior.

The result is equal parts refined function and emotional experience.

 Inverted Suspension Light by Niamh Barry, 2015

This unique light sculpture is hand-made of patinated and scored hand-formed bronze, glass opal tiles, and powered by dimmable LEDs.  Inspired by movement and the drawn line, it encourages the viewer’s own movement so as to experience the piece’s multifaceted shapes.

Barry’s work is the story is about ‘the line’ and the journey it takes from its inception in the early sketches, through to the finished piece.

Knotted light also by Niamh Barry, is a unique mirror polished hand-formed solid bronze Opal Glass Mosaic with LEDS

Detail of Knotted Table light

Flight, a third example by Niamh Barry,2015, Mirro polished hand-formed solid bronze opal glass mosaic

Detail of Flight Suspension light

Barometro lamps by Giacomo Ravagli, 2011, copper and marble sculptures dressed up as lamps

in images above and below.

Hand-crafted, labor-intensive, massive, rare marble, polished surfaces, precise … these lamps seem to represent man’s mastery over and taming of nature.

Volume (Yellow) by Cecilie Bendixen, 2015 is a sound absorbing pendant light. This piece represents a hybrid form of design, involving textile art, sculpture and architecture. (Diameter 80 cm, height adjustable)

It’s massive form suspended by and trailing tiny threads creates the illusion of a floating orb.

Detail of the folds that increase the sound absorbing properties of this textile.

Knotted, Inverted and Flight photos courtesy of Todd Merrill Gallery

Barometro photos courtesy of the designer via Dezeen

Volume (Yellow) photos courtesy of Galerie Maria Wettergren