Sabine Marcelis' First-Ever Solo Museum Show Has Just Opened

The first-ever solo show dedicated to Dutch designer Sabine Marcelis has just opened in Zürich, bringing together the most comprehensive overview of her work to date.

Named “Sabine Marcelis – Light and Color”, the show tracks Marcelis’ output, from the opening of her studio in 2011 to present day. Across the whole show, as the title suggests, her consistent focus on light and color is examined, with visitors able to learn more about her processes while seeing the works up close.

“I didn’t want this exhibition to be an archive of past projects but rather an insight into how I work, how we play with light, material and colour in my studio,” said Sabine Marcelis, who lives and works in Rotterdam having graduated from the Design Academy Eindhoven in 2011.

With putting an emphasis on the present in mind, Marcelis revisited her relationship with UK-based lava lamp manufacturer Mathmos to create a site-specific installation that features extra large floor-to-ceiling lava lamps within a mirrored room.

And while it’s not an archival show as such, there are earlier works on show. Her famous “Candy Cube” series (debuted in 2014) makes an appearance, along with the Tall Stripe piece from 2013.

Scenography has been developed by the designer and her studio, and of course, makes expert use of lighting to exaggerate the materiality of the works. In one section, she has created a light tunnel that features pieces from her IKEA VARMBLIXT collection.

Marcelis’ solo show at the Museum für Gestaltung Zürich highlights follows on from exhibitions with Jasper Morrison in 2016, Formafantasma in 2022, and Tatiana Bilbao in 2024. It will remain on view until April 4, 2027.