Johanna Grawunder Four Square

Johanna Grawunder was born in 1961 in San Diego. Grawunder is a designer and architect based in Milan and San Francisco with a team of craftspeople in northern Italy. She is known for her monumental light installations. In addition to light installations, her practice includes minimalistic architecture and interiors, limited edition furniture design, and mass-produced pieces. Rather than being composed of light bulbs, Grawunder’s chandeliers are made from fluorescent tubing.

Her modernist designs pair with the resulting simple production and energy efficiency to redefine luxury in the present age by highlighting the fact that there is no greater luxury than for life, art, and the planet to continue to exist. Indeed, Grawunder’s aim is to create heirlooms; works with longevity in a disposable era. To this end, she employs thoughtful and skilled craftsmanship methods.

Grawunder often uses energy efficient mass production techniques and materials, such as polished stainless steel, steel cables, painted metal, and her signature colored acrylic. Through light, shape, and color she reveals the beauty of these basic materials. Grawunder’s light installations are permanently on exhibit in the 7th floor restaurant of the Museum of Arts and Design in New York.