Refractory

Est.

2021

Based in

Chicago, USA

Refractory embrace the unusual, the unforeseen, as well as the durable and resilient, as a part of their ethos. Specializing in furniture, lighting, and objects, the studio designs, creates, and shares meticulously crafted works that stand out in the language of American and contemporary design. By employing traditional techniques with modern tools, Refractory represents both an evolution and an expansion of a community of artisans dedicated to creating in the intersection of art and collectible design.

“Refractory hopes to participate in an open-ended renaissance of American artisanship and small-scale urban manufacturing in the Midwest”

Led by co-founders Angie West of Texas and Alberto Velez of Bogotá, Refractory operates from its Chicago workshop, where artisans merge traditional techniques with experimental approaches. Working with cast bronze, glass, stone, and hand-patinated metals, the studio celebrates the beauty of raw materials shaped through fire, force, and precision. The result is a collection of bold yet poetic pieces that bridge the worlds of art and design, transforming interiors with their sculptural presence. Refractory is constantly inspired by their profound love and respect for the frontier's landscape and geology. The underpinning of the studio’s ethos stems from the arid western landforms geological forces, and the rough honesty of erosion that represent the hard yet exquisite beauty of those who came before us in civilization.