ItooRaba Stool by Sizar Alexis

Sizar Alexis is a Swedish-Iraqi product and furniture designer, who experiments with objects that display serenity through geometrical shapes, while remaining robust in volume. His trademark style is built on creating objects that bear a strong character, accomplished through the use of raw and imperfect surfaces, in combination with a deep interest in brutalism and the rich cultural and architectural heritage from ancient Mesopotamia. He uses the delicate character of noble materials juxtaposed with brutalist angular shapes, to create objects that stand the test of time.

Sizar was born in Ankawa, just outside the city of Erbil, in northern Iraq. His Chaldean roots put his lineage in a straight line back to 5000 BC, in ancient Mesopotamia. In 1997, he moved to Sweden, with his family and settled in Eskilstuna. During his studies, at Beckmans College of Design, he started to explore his interest in designing objects and furniture for the home. He holds bachelor’s degrees in engineering and fine arts.

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.