Refractory Studio

Lighting

About

Refractory is a furniture, lighting, and objects brand and design studio based in Chicago, founded by Angie West and Alberto Vélez. The studio conceives, produces, and purveys rigorously crafted works that emphasise materiality and American craftsmanship.

West and Vélez were already well-versed in infusing artistic sensibility into experimental objects and furniture before launching Refractory. Their powerful debut, "Holotype," was presented at Alcova during Milan Design Week 2022 — an exhibition of cast bronze, resin, and solid wood furnishings, light fixtures, and objects shrouded in a turmeric haze in the attic of a former Milanese military hospital. The show quickly garnered attention from the international design community.

The studio has since exhibited at Salon Art + Design at the Park Avenue Armory in New York, and is represented by R Hughes gallery.