c. Tess Kelly

Toile

(n.) A first and final draft in fabric

Toile is a series of oversized lamps shown as sculptural studies in calico, captured mid-process. Conceived as artist proofs, the works read like three-dimensional sketches - eccentric forms held in suspension, as if awaiting a final stitch. Appearing as table lamps, floor lamps, and one towering form, each piece leans quietly, its head adjusted by placement rather than symmetry, as if paused mid-conversation.

In traditional shade-making, seams are hidden. Toile reverses this instinct, leaving seams, joins, and internal scaffolding visible and celebrated. Panels are tailored with nuance, revealing the logic of garment construction and the human quality of structure beneath the surface. Difference is embraced over uniformity - an ode to process, imperfection, and the quiet elegance of things becoming.

These calico Toiles form the ongoing foundation of the project. The series later evolved into KIN, a capsule of hand-dyed editions developed for the NGV Rigg Design Prize 2025, crafted from deadstock cotton gifted by ALM Studio and embellished with antique lace, buttons, and velvet ribbons drawn from Lyda’s family sewing boxes.

Produced in Sydney, Australia

Exhibitions

• Low Key, Fiona Lynch Office — Melbourne Design Week 2025 (AUS)
• Next in Design, NGV Rigg Design Prize 2025 — Ian Potter Centre (AUS)
• Forward Furniture, Dutch Design Week 2025 — curated by Liv Vaisberg (NL)

Materials

Hand-stitched textile over a powder-coated steel frame
Aluminium components and base plate
Integrated LED lighting with clear flex and inline switch