Pepe Heykoop (1984) is inspired by nature’s stunning inventiveness, its incredible capacity for adaptation, and its naturally occurring cycles. In nature, very little is what it seems, and chance and serendipity, rather than planning or design, lead to marvellous outcomes.

Translating these features to his own design process, Pepe creates unique, handmade objects that each have their own story to tell – a story, most often, of serendipity, of finding something you weren’t looking for, of time and change. His designs never spring from his head or the drawing table but come into being through chance encounters with objects, materials or techniques, as well as through trial and error.

Rejected animal hides become tabletops and seats; bits of wood destined for the fireplace are transformed into new furniture. The unpredictably shaped glass orbs that fall from a glassblower’s pipe produce spectacular feasts of light; soap and ink collaborate to leave lasting prints of ephemeral bubbles; a handmade machine with a mind of its own creates drawings that no human could dream up. Pepe likes to try out different perspectives on things we think we know so well; to make the seemingly impossible possible, and to turn the rejected into something worthwhile and beautiful.

Pepe studied at the Design Academy Eindhoven (2008) and founded his design studio the same year. He both works at self initiated projects as well as commissions. Together with his cousin, in 2010 they founded Tiny Miracles: a foundation in the slums of Mumbai, India, aimed at helping an entire community to be self-supporting within 10 years. Besides increasing the future opportunities of the members of this community, Tiny Miracles was yet another experience in relying on trust and improvisation, and allowing time and chance to run their course.

Pepe's works have earned numerous awards, are sold to collectors in the field of both art and design, and are housed by several institutions, including the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum NY and Musée des Arts Décoratifs Paris.

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SHOWS

Salone del Mobile Milan,

TENT London,

DMY Berlin,

ICFF New York,

IMM Cologne,

Dutch Design Week,

EXPO Singapore,

Maison & Object

Stedelijk Museum Den Bosh

Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum NY

Cappellini