03/04/2025
Great design is more than just an aesthetics – it is a conversion, a connection, a story brought to life.
It requires creative minds coming together, merging ideas and above all collaborating.
The Face of Africa Leather Sling is exactly that - an inspired collaboration between Studio Stirling and South African Artist and Designer Tsepo Makate.
Stripped to its essence, this chair is a study in contrasts— sturdy steel meets the warmth of hand-dyed, hand-carved leather. This, coupled with Tsepo’s intricate illustration, etched by hand, transforms the piece into something beyond furniture—where structure and storytelling, craftsmanship and creativity, come together as one.
“As a designer you want to see your design, or your art come alive in different forms. The collaboration with Studio Stirling made that possible - now my art lives in a form I would have never expected. Today wherever I go and whoever I show my portfolio to, that piece of work is always proudly displayed in there, and someone out there has my art in their home.” – Tsepo Makate
As the Milan Art Fair approaches, with this year’s theme 'Among Friends,' we are reminded of the values championed by Robert Rauschenberg: openness to the world, interdisciplinarity, and commitment to dialogue and collaboration.
At Studio Stirling, we embrace these principles, reflecting on our collaborations and the use of interdisciplinary art forms to create contemporary hanging chairs that make a bold statement.