Who is Jaime Hayon? The designer behind Hopebird and The Guest
A bird gazing at the horizon. A porcelain creature in a hat that a different artist paints every time. A side table that looks like a mushroom in the forest. Welcome to the world of Jaime Hayon – the Spaniard who takes design so seriously that he can afford to play with it.
• Jaime Hayon, born in Madrid in 1974, is one of the best-known designers of his generation.
• His signature: ceramics and porcelain somewhere between art, irony and surrealism.
• At 4D OUTFITTERS you will find his objects by Bosa and Lladró, some as limited, numbered editions.
• On display in our boutique in Bregenz and online.
From skateboard to design icon
Jaime Hayon was born in Madrid in 1974. As a teenager he cared more about skateboards and graffiti than chair legs – and that world still shapes his work today. He studied industrial design in Madrid and Paris and joined Fabrica, Benetton's creative academy, in 1997. There he went from student of photographer Oliviero Toscani to head of the design department.
In 2000 he founded his own studio, Hayon Studio, based in Valencia. Since then he has worked for Fritz Hansen, Baccarat, Bosa and Lladró, among others. His work has been shown in solo exhibitions at places such as the Groninger Museum (Netherlands) and the Design Museum Holon (Israel).
Why we love Hayon
His objects aren't decor you swap out after three years. They are characters. Five reasons they have found a home with us:
- They fit in almost anywhere. Minimalist loft or eclectic period flat: a Hayon piece makes a statement without overwhelming the room.
- Craftsmanship down to the detail. Glazes, gold accents, hand-painted patterns – at Bosa and Lladró the pieces are made by hand.
- Humour. Hayon doesn't take himself too seriously. His figures wink at you rather than stare.
- Spanish temperament, international outlook. Mediterranean colours and shapes meet influences from his years in Italy and London.
- Limited editions. Some pieces exist only in small, numbered runs – collector's items with a story.
Curiosities about Jaime Hayon
Things you probably didn't know
- Skater before designer
Before Hayon designed porcelain for Lladró, he was part of Madrid's skate and graffiti scene. He names these passions as the foundation of his art.
- The youngest guest of honour
In 2008 Hayon was guest of honour at the Biennale Interieur in Kortrijk, Belgium – the youngest designer ever to receive that honour.
- One guest, many faces
Lladró's "The Guest" is deliberately a blank canvas: Hayon designed the shape, and artists such as Paul Smith, Gary Baseman and Devilrobots have painted it since. Every version tells a different story.
- 15 birds, 15 one-offs
The first Hopebird collection, created in 2013 for the Design-Apart platform together with Bosa, consisted of 15 identically shaped ceramic birds – each with a different hand-painted decoration. The birds stand for hope and an optimistic view of the future.
- A table like a mushroom
Hayon's T-Table for Bosa was presented at Maison&Objet in Paris in 2014. Its shape recalls mushrooms growing in a forest – put several together and you get a little ceramic grove.
Bosa and Lladró: two manufacturers, one signature
With us you will find Jaime Hayon's design and art objects from two houses: the Italian ceramics manufacturer Bosa (such as the Hopebirds, the vases of the Theatre Hayon series and the T-Table) and the Spanish porcelain manufacturer Lladró (such as "The Guest" and the Embraced Sculpture). Some pieces are open editions, others limited and numbered.
An honest word on collecting: nobody can promise that an object will rise in value. Buy a Hayon piece because it makes you smile every day. Everything else is a bonus.
Some large or particularly fragile pieces can only be collected from our boutique in Bregenz. These objects are marked in the online shop. Questions? Write to us at service@4doutfitters.com.
Fancy more design with a wink? Read how Bosa put Bugs Bunny in a tuxedo, or discover Karl Lagerfeld's porcelain collection.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Jaime Hayon?
A Spanish artist and designer, born in Madrid in 1974. He is known for playful, surreal objects in ceramics and porcelain, including for Bosa and Lladró.
Where can I buy objects by Jaime Hayon?
At 4D OUTFITTERS in Bregenz and in our online shop – in the Bosa and Lladró collections.
Are all pieces shipped?
Most of them, yes. Some large or fragile pieces are available for collection in Bregenz only and are marked accordingly in the shop.
Your 4D OUTFITTERS team, Bregenz
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