Defining lines

Over the past decade, Joris Poggioli’s work has developed into a portfolio where artistic expression merges with minimalism and functionality, but the horizon holds deeper meaning for him beyond aesthetics. “What fascinates me is that this line is shared by all of us, wherever we are in the world, and yet it is never the same,” says the Paris-based designer. “To change [the] horizon is to change that line, to shift one’s point of view, to accept a new perspective. I am constantly trying to design objects that feel precise and grounded, yet leave room for projection, silence and imagination.”

Fittingly, Horizon is also the title of Poggioli’s latest design endeavour, a collection of furniture pieces created in collaboration with Mobilia. It distils the quiet elegance and precision that define Poggioli’s work, carrying what he describes as “an even greater sense of clarity”, honouring his obsession with line, proportion and balance. “Every piece is reduced to what feels absolutely necessary,” he says. “My [signature aesthetic is] not added on top, but embedded directly into the structure of the objects themselves. The aim is not decoration, but inevitability: each form should feel as though it could not be otherwise.”

Established in 2017, Poggioli’s studio creates objects, furniture and interiors that blend elegance with eccentricity, drawing on the designer’s French Italian heritage. His work reveals traces of his early experiences with sculpture and photography, with a careful balance of form and proportion, and a material palette that is both considered and
expressive.

Before founding the studio, his path to design was far from straight. Studying business and on course for a rugby career, it was a personality test that first pointed him toward his creative instincts. Speaking in 2025, he said: “Beauty entered my life like a revelation. Suddenly, something opened inside me: I began taking drawing lessons, reading, listening, watching everything I could find, non-stop. It felt like learning to breathe.” Photography beckoned for a time, but he went on to enrol at Grenoble National Higher School of Architecture. “With architecture, I realised you could draw the contours of your own world. That moved me deeply,” he added.

Among his best-known projects, and perhaps one that exemplifies his eclectic approach, is Poggioli’s own apartment, set within a building that once belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte. The 90sqm space was completely redesigned as a contemporary interior that nods to its historical grandeur. It features some of his most celebrated
designs, the Ettore bookcase and the Rick chair, alongside vintage pieces and modern art. Texture and materiality come through in the metal surfaces: a custom-designed stainless steel kitchen that is both utilitarian and elegant, and a mezzanine floor that alters the architecture while maximising the apartment’s height.

For Poggioli, Horizon is a reflection of his practice as a whole, built from what he calls “journeys into extraordinary worlds of craftsmanship”, assembled through collaborations with stone carvers, woodworkers, metalworkers and silversmiths. “These are passionate artisans who transmit knowledge often inherited over several generations, and working with them is an infinite privilege,” he has said. “They shape my thinking as much as I shape the objects; without them, I would be

nothing—their hands, intuition and rigour give life to my ideas and anchor them in reality.” A sensitivity to materials and craft is evident throughout the collection. Furniture pieces are defined by what Poggioli describes as “a single gesture”, a precise line or seamless volume expressing timeless form and subtle colour.

The collection’s March launch marked Poggioli’s first visit to Australia. Speaking to The Luxury Report from his Paris studio ahead of the trip, he reflected on working with a place from afar: “The distance itself, that vast territory, has already nourished my imagination,” he said. “But there is something powerful about working with a place you have not yet experienced physically—it sharpens intuition and projection.” It was a process of creative projection he saw as only the start. “I feel that this first encounter […] is only the beginning. I am certain that once I experience Australia directly, its landscapes, light and scale will deeply influence my work.”

Gallery Twenty Twenty, a new exhibition space in Alexandria dedicated to the dialogue between art, sculpture and design, provided the debut’s setting. “I have long been intrigued by the captivating, sculptural language of Joris’ work,” says Mobilia founding director and Gallery Twenty Twenty

director Sam Fazzari. His introduction to Poggioli’s work was the Rose sofa: an exercise in paredback functionality, it essentially features three upholstered tubes that form the seat, with an additional tube for the
back. Perfectly proportioned and surprisingly comfortable, its design left a lasting impression on Fazzari. That same quiet instinct runs through Horizon.

“Joris’ designs possess a rare balance of artistry and presence,” Fazzari explains. “He has paired experimentation with a sensitive use of the skills and knowledge of the craftspeople he collaborates with, and the result is a collection defined by simplicity, precision and a quiet sense of luxury and elegance.”

Poggioli returns the sentiment. “Sam is extraordinary—he truly understands artists,” he says. “There is a genuine desire to support, reveal and elevate creative voices. His vision goes far beyond commerce; it is deeply human. I sincerely hope this marks the beginning of a long friendship.”

gallerytwentytwenty.com