FOSCARINI x BRIAN REA — Whats In A Lamp?
The Foscarini x Brian Rea artist collaboration forms the latest chapter of What’s in a Lamp?, the Italian lighting brand’s long-running editorial project that treats lamps as cultural objects rather than technical solutions.
Spokes, designed by Garcia Cumini
“We saw surprise, joy, and happiness in Spokes,” says Brian Rea. “It’s such a calm, warm lamp, whether it’s on or off. We wanted to capture that feeling.”
Designed by Garcia Cumini, Spokes is a suspension lamp built from a network of thin metal rods radiating from a central hub. Its structure references bicycle wheels, architectural domes, and lanterns, allowing light to pass through rather than simply diffusing it. The form produces shadows that feel measured and deliberate.
Previous contributors to the project include illustrators and visual artists such as Noma Bar, Federico Babina, Luca Font, Jim Stoten, Fausto Gilberti, Maja Wrońska, Kevin Lucbert, Oscar Pettersson, Antje Damm, Francesca Gastone, Bennet Pimpinella, Giona Maiarelli, and Lee Wagstaff. Each artist approaches the lamp not as a prop but as a subject with its own internal logic.
Within this lineage, Brian Rea’s contribution stands out for its cohesion. Animated by Bruno Persico, the six films share a restrained visual language and a consistent emotional register.
Rea is best known for his illustrations for the New York Times Modern Love column, where small gestures and quiet pauses carry narrative weight. Living in Sweden, where winter compresses daylight into short and precious intervals, he approaches light as something noticed rather than assumed. That sensitivity shapes every moment of this series.
Madre, designed by Andrea Anastasio
“When I saw Madre, for both myself and animator Bruno Persico, it already felt like an animated object,” Rea explains. “And we wondered: how could anyone resist checking it out from within?”
Madre, designed by Andrea Anastasio, exists somewhere between lamp, vase, and sculptural container. Its rounded ceramic body includes voids and openings that invite touch and inspection. The object suggests interior space before it is ever switched on.
Binic, designed by Ionna Vautrin
“Binic’s shape reminds me of my two boys when we bundle them up on snowy days here in Sweden,” says Rea. “Big brother and little brother, sitting together in quiet conversation.”
Binic, designed by Ionna Vautrin, is compact, brightly coloured, and gently anthropomorphic. Its plastic shell and flared base recall mid-century domestic objects and early space-age design. It feels portable and familiar, as if it already belongs somewhere.
Sun-Light of Love, designed by Tord Boontje
“For this lamp, animator Bruno Persico and I asked ourselves: what are we filled with when a lamp is turned on?” says Rea. “And in the case of our little friend here, the answer is joy.”
Designed by Tord Boontje, Sun-Light of Love draws on floral ornament and decorative tradition. Its layered petals diffuse light softly, producing a glow that feels intimate and deliberate.
Fleur, designed by Dordoni Studio
“The Fleur lamp called for a delicate story,” Rea says. “Shy at first, but playful too. A story about growth, and one this quiet character is happy to share.”
Fleur, designed by Dordoni Studio, responds mechanically to dimming. As the light level increases, floral elements emerge, revealing the lamp gradually rather than all at once. The design rewards attention over time.
Eolie, designed by Foscarini
Eolie completes the series with movement. The suspension elements sway subtly, responding to air currents. Rea treats this motion as conversation, allowing the lamp to lead the animation rather than the character.
Light behaves like weather. Presence replaces performance.
Explore more work by Brian Rea in his PORTFOLIO
