Metal Wall Relief Sun

The Metal Wall Relief Sun was created by Alexander Girard for Vitra.

Since its launch in the 1950s, Vitra has consistently delivered eye-catching and functional furniture and accessories for the home and workplace. As well as working with contemporary designers, the label also reissues style classics of the 20th-century. A colleague of Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard was probably best known for his textile and graphic design, much of which had a whimsical quality. His work is widely exhibited around the world, including in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

The Metal Wall Relief Sun was originally designed in 1966 for Girard's home and restaurant in Santa Fe, California. The stylised smiling face of the wall relief is typical of his work and reflects his fondness for tribal and Latin American folk art. Crafted in brass, this simple yet powerful piece works in any domestic setting, rustic and contemporary, as well as in public spaces such as the lobbies of offices and hotels. It is particularly effective at drawing light into dark corners. The Metal Wall Relief Sun measures 60 x 60 cm.