SOFT BAROQUE
Sculptural Minimalism and Everyday Surrealism
At the heart of their practice lies a desire to rethink traditional domestic objects. Their work explores materiality, abstraction, and perception, often using materials commonly associated with interiors in unusual, subversive ways. The duo’s sculptural pieces reference the heritage of mid-century modern design but reinterpret its clean lines through the lens of irony, visual metaphor, and layered symbolism. Among their most recognizable pieces is the Pietre coffee table, developed in collaboration with the radical Italian brand Gufram.
The Pietre Table: Where Object Meets Illusion
The Soft Baroque Pietre table redefines the relationship between function and surface. Appearing like a cluster of smooth, polished stones, the table is actually made from sculpted polyurethane—a material transformed by the duo’s meticulous craftsmanship. Part of Gufram’s irreverent design collection, the Pietre coffee table in polyurethane blurs the line between sculpture and product, domesticity and display. Design enthusiasts seeking to buy Soft Baroque objects are often drawn to this piece for its playful illusionism and poetic form.
A Studio Shaping Experimental Aesthetics
Soft Baroque has exhibited internationally, from the Venice Biennale and Design Museum London to Christie’s, the V&A, and Friedman Benda in New York. Their diverse portfolio includes home accessories like mirrors, innovative furniture pieces like shelves, low tables, and site-specific installations, each rooted in an investigation of contemporary visual culture. The Soft Baroque design collection is characterized by an evolving dialogue between object, context, and meaning, one where the material choices and subtle humor are always intentional.
Function Redefined in Postdigital Design
Their output speaks directly to a generation of collectors and curators who appreciate the intersection of theory and craft. Often classified as postdigital furniture, their work embraces technological awareness without abandoning the tactile language of traditional making. The Soft Baroque tables for Gufram stand as a testament to this duality, grounded in physicality but conceptually expansive. Their ability to create contemporary objects that challenge perception is what places them at the forefront of today’s experimental design landscape.