Fabien Dubrunfaut
Swing Forward, 2023

About Swing Forward by Fabien Dubrunfaut

Fabien (Fab) Dubrunfaut’s mastery of woodworking and precise design acumen shines in this piece from his latest series, wherein he takes his drawings from concept to completion with a special focus on seating. Swing Forward presents sculptural thematics, fusing modern aesthetics with traditional technique to provide exceptional comfort and functionality in addition to its beauty.

American Hardwoods

Fabien Dubrunfaut utilizes choice cuts of American hardwoods to fuse durability with classic beauty. In Swing Forward, Fab utilizes walnut, a wood known for its straight grain and rich tones, complemented by brass fixtures and a stunning, vintage Jack Lenor Larsen upholstery. Larsen’s textiles are acclaimed for their unique aesthetic sensibilities, and have classically been used by designers and creators of modernist furnishings, works that Larsen himself promoted and patronized. In Swing Forward, a classic Larsen textile sits across geometric cushions, blending classic refinement with a 21st-century approach to furniture design.

Traditional Craftsmanship

The technique used by Fabien Dubrunfaut echoes that of studio craft masters like George Nakashima and Wharton Esherick. Dubrunfaut centers his work around prime woodcuts and utilizes careful touches, such as the precise exposed joinery in Swing Forward, to enhance their natural beauty. His background in drawing allows for meticulous planning and attention to detail, which comes through in the form of the carefully formed shapes, angles, and joinery techniques utilized in Swing Forward.

Fabien Dubrunfaut: From Concept to Completion

Hailing from Tourcoing, Northern France, Dubrunfaut’s earliest artistic pursuits came prior to high school, when he was advised that he had a talent for drawing. He studied architecture at Ecole d’Architecture de Lille, but eager to express his creativity and delve into hands-on works, he shifted his efforts to woodworking, where he found success and honed his skills in Revel, a traditional hub of furniture and marquetry fabrication.

After an internship in North France and several years working as a journeyman woodworker, Dubrunfaut relocated to the United States. There, in 1985, he took a job with a company made up of professional woodworkers who studied at what would today be known as the University of the Arts, before eventually striking out on his own, starting Fab Dubrunfaut Woodworking, and becoming a staple of modern studio craft artistry and woodworking. Today, he has successfully sold his business and pursues his long-awaited dream and greatest passion: bringing his drawings from concept to completion, with a special focus on the Chair, the most challenging of all.

Designed and created by Fabien Dubrunfaut in 2023.