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Fabien Cappello Crafts a Colorful Mosaic of Collaborations

10.23.24 | By
Fabien Cappello Crafts a Colorful Mosaic of Collaborations

Sometimes, inspiration strikes in the most unexpected places. For designer Fabien Cappello, it was a local newspaper called Mural in Guadalajara that sparked a collaboration and creative journey with a nearby mosaic workshop. Cappello, who has called Mexico home since 2016, stumbled upon a news story about a mural featuring an eighteenth-century bishop, but it wasn’t the historical figure that caught his eye – it was the craftsmanship of the intricate mosaic. That discovery led him to Taller de Mosáico Artístico, a local workshop that produced the mural and was serendipitously situated just down the street from his studio. From there, Cappello embarked on a collaboration that blends his love for bold patterns and vibrant colors with the workshop’s meticulous tile-making techniques, which would eventually lead to his exhibition, “On se rejoint à la villa!” at Villa Noailles in Hyères, France.

Exhibit display with a colorful interior photo by Fabien Cappello, surrounded by blue walls decorated with metal pitchers and art

Bright, modern living room with colorful striped sofas, geometric rugs, and decorative wall art. Large windows allow natural light, and contemporary lamps hang from the ceiling

With Byzantium and Burle Marx influences, Cappello and Taller de Mosáico Artístico created a series of gem-colored surface designs featuring undulating waves and circles, geometric grids, and a color palette of coral, navy, ochre, and robin’s egg blue that work together in perfect visual harmony. These mosaics were then flat-packed, shipped from Guadalajara to Hyères, and turned into their final forms as tables using simple pine frames for the exhibition.

Modern living room with vibrant, patterned sofas and chairs, wooden coffee tables, colorful rugs, large windows, and unique pendant lights

Wooden benches with colorful, geometric-patterned cushions, placed on a vibrant, multi-colored carpet

A modern living room with a teal sectional sofa, colorful wall clock, geometric light fixture, and a wooden coffee table with patterned decor. A potted plant is in the corner

Like his relationship with Taller de Mosáico Artístico, Cappello’s design philosophy is centered around tapping into local, often-overlooked industries – a principle showcased throughout the exhibition. Rather than collaborating with Mexico’s iconic artisans like weavers or ceramicists, he seeks out lesser-known cottage industries that fuel urban economies but often fly under the design radar. Take, for example, a family tinplate workshop that normally produces cake molds and watering cans, now tasked to create vases and lampshades. Or a company in Lerma that specializes in upholstery for bus seats, enlisted to produce the eye-catching, acid-bright polyester prints for Cappello’s seating. His pieces don’t just reflect their origin stories – they create new ones, shaping how we think about design in the most unexpected ways.

A teal upholstered sofa with three striped cushions in yellow, blue, and purple. A plant is visible behind the sofa, set against a bright white wall and large window

Colorful modern furniture set with a striped sofa, chair, and a lamp on a wooden table. Geometric patterns and vibrant colors stand out against a minimalistic backdrop

A pink lamp and silver candleholders on a colorful patterned table, surrounded by green plants

A standout in this element of surprise is the Toto lamp, designed for Hem. At first glance, the design nods to the archetypal lamp – angled shade, chunky base – but, of course, Cappello’s designs are anything but traditional. Covered entirely in textiles, the Toto lamp blurs the line between form and function, creating a tactile experience that feels fresh and unexpected. The uniform material, combined with vivid hues and graphic patterns, gives the lamp a cartoonish, almost animated presence. And while the Toto Large version makes a grand statement with its oversized scale, it remains physically light, making it an easy piece to move around. For those short on space, Toto Small or Toto Medium variants brings all the charm in a compact, tidy form, perfect for adding a playful pop to any corner.

A teal upholstered ottoman is in front of a light wood table with two silver candlesticks and a pink lampshade on a black base. A colorful rug is partially visible on the floor

A lamp with a yellow shade and black-and-white striped base on a light wooden table

Colorful modern living room with a striped sofa, geometric rug, two star-shaped pendant lights, and a large planter with greenery

A modern living room with colorful, geometric-patterned furniture, hanging pendant lights, and a tall plant in a vibrant pot. The floor is glass, and décor is eclectic

A bright, modern living room with striped sofas, colorful wall decor, a glass table, and geometric lighting. Large windows allow natural light to illuminate the space

Colorful, modern living room with patterned sofas and cushions on a glass floor. Large windows and bright natural light enhance the vibrant decor

A colorful, modern living room with patterned sofas, a glass coffee table, mismatched lamps, and a plant. Geometric decor and a patterned rug complete the look

A colorful patterned sofa on a vibrant rug with a pink lamp and green plant in the background

Colorful geometric wall lights and vibrant candlestick holders on a white shelf against a white wall

Gallery wall with blue background, displaying metal pitchers on shelves and photos. A clock is mounted above

A room with blue walls and floor, featuring potted cacti in metal planters. Five overhead pendant lights hang above, and a framed picture is on the wall

A blue wall displaying metal vases with colorful flowers, alongside photographs of crafting processes

To learn more about the Fabien Cappello’s “On se rejoint à la villa!” exhibition or his new Toto lamps for Hem, visit hem.com.

Photography by Luc Bertrand.

As the Senior Contributing Editor, Vy Yang is obsessed with discovering ways to live well + with intention through design. She's probably sharing what she finds over on Instagram stories. You can also find her at vytranyang.com.