When looking at Nacho Carbonell’s fantastical organic furniture designs, it’s easy to believe they are about to come to life. And that’s precisely what the Spanish designer wants you to think.
“I like to see objects as living organisms, imagining them coming alive and being able to surprise you with their behavior,” he has said. “I want to create objects with my hands, then I can give them my personality. I turn them into communicative objects that can arouse one’s sensations and imaginations.”
Born in 1980, Carbonell spent his childhood in Valencia. In later years, he attended the Cardinal Herrera C.E.U. University, graduating in 2003, before continuing his studies at the Design Academy in Eindhoven, the Netherlands. After his graduation, Carbonell remained in Eindhoven, opening his studio there.
Carbonell’s sculptural furniture, such as his concrete and multicolor paper Fossil cabinet, ceramic vases, chairs and sculptures, immediately captured the attention of collectors and critics in the mid-2000s. His unique style, consisting of organic forms and rough, colorful textures, earned plaudits and several awards. In 2009, his Evolution collection merited a nomination for the Beazley Design of the Year from London’s Design Museum. That same year, he was named a Designer of the Future at Design Miami/Basel. In 2013, Carbonell won Architectural Digest Spain’s Designer of the Year award.
Carbonell’s modern works have been exhibited at museums around the world, including the Groningen Museum in the Netherlands, the 21_21 Design Sight Museum in Japan, Fonds National D’Art Contemporain in France, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Mint Museum in North Carolina.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of Nacho Carbonell decorative objects, seating, case pieces and storage cabinets.
Nacho Carbonell Desk Sculpture, 2009, Spain
By Nacho Carbonell
Located in Girona, Spain
Nacho Carbonell sculpture, 2009, Spain. Very good condition. Title: "Table + 2" Unique prototype from the skin collection by Nacho Carbonell for Droog. Exhibited: Ag22, Milan, I...
Metal
Shen Yaun, Bamboo Comb Sculpture, France, 2009
By S.C. Yuan
Located in New York, NY
Numbered 39/50 and labeled, "Shen Yuan 08.11.2009" Chinese-born artist Shen Yuan explains her work: “The comb is a personal object that can accompany us for a lifetime. In the morni...
Wood
Miguel Berrocal La Maja Bronze Sculpture, Spain, 1978
By Miguel Berrocal
Located in Barcelona, ES
La Maja sculpture by Miguel Berrocal, Spain, 1978. Bronze puzzle sculpture with 11 pieces and cast iron base, include the original book. Limited edition of 1000 units, signed and num...
Bronze, Iron
$12,000
H 67 in W 15.5 in D 11.5 in
Manuel Carbonell Aluminum Original Casting Dancer Figure Sculpture Cuban Artist
By Manuel Carbonell
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Impressive large dancer aluminum sculpture by Cuban Artist Manuel Carbonell (1918-2011) On marble stand signed MC. I-I . The marble base is attached. Including base 67” tall (w...
Aluminum
Lladro spain porcelain rare poodle sculpture
By Lladro
Located in Delft, NL
beautiful detailed piece
Porcelain
Austin Productions Embracing Figures by Manuel Carbonell
By Manuel Carbonell, Austin Productions
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Manuel Carbonell for Austin Productions Embracing Couple. Signed and dated 1986, but i have seen variations of this sculpture dated to the early 1960's In very nice original condi...
Plaster
Spanish Hand Painted Iron Bamboo Sculpture
Located in Marbella, ES
Spanish hand painted iron bamboo sculpture.
Iron
$9,600
H 49 in W 6 in D 8 in
Manuel Carbonell Limited Edition Simple Form Figure Bronze Sculpture, circa 1976
By Manuel Carbonell
Located in Miami Beach, FL
Impressive simple form bronze sculpture by Manuel Carbonell (1918-20111) Signed ME and numbered Without marble or base 49” tall by approximately 8” deep x 6” wide. With the marbl...
Bronze
Pygmalion and Galatea Sculpture by Manuel Carbonell, 1963
By Manuel Carbonell, Austin Prod, Auguste Rodin
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Manuel Carbonell – Pygmalion and Galatea (1962–63) This striking rendition of Pygmalion and Galatea, sculpted by Cuban-American master Manuel Carbonell, captures mythos and modernis...
Plaster
$2,415
H 9.06 in W 7.88 in D 7.88 in
'Transformation, Hot and Sharp' Ceramic Kettle by Nacho Carbonell
By Rossana Orlandi, Nacho Carbonell
Located in Milan, IT
“We are what we make” says Nacho Carbonell about his work. Nacho Carbonell creates a kettle which communicates its state through body language, showing us how to treat it. Hot Kettle...
Ceramic
'Transformation, Second Skin' Ceramic Kettle by Nacho Carbonell
By Rossana Orlandi, Nacho Carbonell
Located in Milan, IT
"We are what we make” says Nacho Carbonell about his work. Nacho Carbonell creates a kettle which communicates its state through body language, showing us how to treat it. Hot Kettle...
Ceramic
'Transformation, Texture' Ceramic Kettle by Nacho Carbonell
By Nacho Carbonell, Rossana Orlandi
Located in Milan, IT
“We are what we make” says Nacho Carbonell about his work. Nacho Carbonell creates a kettle which communicates its state through body language, showing us how to treat it. Hot Kettle...
Ceramic
'Transformation, Wax' Ceramic Kettle by Nacho Carbonell
By Nacho Carbonell, Rossana Orlandi
Located in Milan, IT
“We are what we make” says Nacho Carbonell about his work. Nacho Carbonell creates a kettle which communicates its state through body language, showing us how to treat it. Hot Kettle...
Ceramic
Model Maquette in Terracotta by Nacho Carbonell
By Rossana Orlandi, Nacho Carbonell
Located in Milan, IT
Model Maquette by Nacho Carbonell is a sculpture that reveals how the root of an idea transforms into a finished piece. Nacho Carbonell’s particular way of creating is an in-depth pr...
Metal