Lost Profile Studio
Lighting
"Aim for absolute uniqueness. Look to uncommon sources of inspiration. Understand what is already out there in the market, and aim to create something that has never been made before.\n"
— Oliver Wilcox, Galerie Philia interview
About
In 2014, during a trip through Europe with his partner Simon, Oliver Wilcox had a defining moment at the famed Paris Flea Market, Les Puces de Saint-Ouen. There, he discovered a painting of a faceless woman turned away from the viewer — a style known as Profil Perdu, or "Lost Profile." The gallerist explained that this technique, traditionally used by painters to refine their skills, required capturing a subject's essence with minimal visual information. Wilcox found this idea profoundly poetic, and it crystallised his vision.
Established in 2017, Lost Profile Studio is based in Coburg North, Melbourne. The studio produces a refined and minimal collection of lighting, furniture, and hardware, drawing influence from both Art Deco elegance and Industrial utility. Wilcox studied Visual Arts, majoring in painting and sculpture, before working for lighting designer Christopher Boots for nearly eight years. "It was when I was working for Christopher Boots between 2012 and 2019 that I was really exposed to the world of functional art, fell in love with lighting and furniture, and started making design objects," he explains.
The main materials are brass and glass — traditional lighting materials deployed in designs that are far from traditional. "Brass can be so robust, but also have such a delicate surface. It can be gold and flashy, it can be dark and moody. It collects handprints and tells its own story." Recent explorations include cast bronze, aluminium, and Four Seasons Quartzite.
From the Studio
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