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Creative Minds

Creative Mind: Mark Grattan

The New York and Mexico City–based designer recently made a splash with his dynamic furnishings that feature velvety curves and an abundance of chrome

By Geoffrey Montes
Modern room with pink velvet furniture, reflective surfaces, striped rug, and unique lighting fixture.
Leopard Skies by Mark Grattan at Cristina Grajales’s booth at Design Miami/ in 2022. Photo: James Harris

“I’m a lavish designer,” admits Mark Grattan, who recently struck out on his own after helming furniture studio VIDIVIXI for eight years. “I’m always looking for decorative details, repetition, and a bit of decadence.” That eye for extravagance has certainly translated to his ultrachic furnishings and accessories, which artfully bridge the aesthetic gap between past, present, and future. “There’s a lot of Italian inspiration, Tropical Modernism, and Art Deco influence in my work,” explains Grattan, who divides his time between New York and Mexico City. “The delicacy of refined craftsmanship is my love language.”

Man sitting on desk in a workshop, looking thoughtful, surrounded by tools and materials, with large windows in the background.
Mark Grattan. Photo: Naima Green

Make a splash: For his U.S. debut, Grattan filled Cristina Grajales’s booth at Design Miami/ in December with dynamic pieces (among them a bed, a table, and a sofa) that feature velvety curves and an abundance of chrome. “The fair was an opportunity to be introduced as an independent designer and reimagine existing pieces in terms of materiality.”

Modern room with metallic coffee table, pink seating, abstract pendant light, and geometric patterned rug in an art gallery setting.
Leopard Skies by Mark Grattan at Cristina Grajales’s booth at Design Miami/ in 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artist
Modern art piece with abstract design, featuring vibrant colors on textured canvas, displayed above a pink sofa in a gallery setting.
Leopard Skies by Mark Grattan at Cristina Grajales’s booth at Design Miami/ in 2022. Photo: Courtesy of the artist

Influences: Grattan has long seen Gabriel Hendifar of design studio Apparatus as a source of immense vision and skill. “His ability to engage all of the senses and bring you into the creative world is so inspiring,” he explains. “His romantic style of storytelling is something I immediately latched onto.” 

Person in a workshop sanding wood near a window, wearing a white shirt and purple cap, with sunlight streaming through.
Mark Grattan. Photo: Naima Green
Decorative woven baskets with oval-shaped tops and intricate patterns on a neutral background
Stools by Mark Grattan. Photo: Courtesy of the artist

Up next: Solange Knowles recently tapped him to be head of product development at her design studio and creative agency, Saint Heron, which consults on everything from fashion and music to literature and furnishings.

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2023 Spring Issue under the headline “Creative Minds.” Subscribe to the magazine.