Chapa Imbuia Bench by Gustavo Dias

Gustavo Dias is a Brazilian artist and designer, born in 1978, in São Paulo, Brazil. He was fortunate to have spent his childhood between his uncle’s farm, where he developed an interest for nature and the city, which allowed him the freedom to put his creativity into play, by building skateboard ramps on the streets. From an early age, he and his sisters, both artists, were taught by their parents to be creative and always find ways to express themselves through art.

Gustavo was heavily influenced by his father, who despite a business degree, was always engaged in artistic activities, using his spare time in painting, building furniture and developing other skills. Despite these influences, it wasn’t until later, at the age of 16 years, that Gustavo had his very first contact with sculpture, woodcarving and other techniques, while attending an exchange student program in the US. Since then, his creative endeavors went from studying marketing, cinema and sculpture, to finally grounding his passion for design in nature, by choosing wood as the main source of inspiration for his art and design. He opened his first workshop in 2006, where objects and furniture are shaped by hand, assembled with traditional techniques and combined with improvisations that allow him to go from early sketches to final products in a combination of form and function, belief and art.

Galerie Philia is an international contemporary sculptural design and art gallery representing emerging and established designers and artists. The gallery is the brainchild of two brothers who share a lifetime passion for art, literature and philosophy. Their distinct academic background sets them apart from their peers, as it sees them following a rhizomatic and transcultural approach in the way they select works. This involves combining elements from multiple cultures in what becomes a network of harmoniously interconnected roots, ultimately revealing the beauty of each unique creation. The gallery’s non-hierarchical curation sits apart from the ephemerality of trends and focuses instead on the true aesthetic quality of the piece – alluring and timeless. Unlike others, Galerie Philia does not focus on a single style – whether minimalist, organic or raw – but rather embraces heterogeneity. The Galerie Philia takes pride in discovering new talents, providing them with multiple international platforms to showcase their latest creations. As well as propelling the newest generation of 21st century collectible design, Galerie Philia also works with internationally known design artists. Galerie Philia has a strong international presence, with galleries in Geneva, New York and Singapore. In addition to their permanent spaces, the gallery organizes temporary group exhibitions and artists residencies in first-class locations around the world.