from industrial fabrication to sculptural stools: fearon hand-crafts playful aluminum furniture

fearon fuses industrial and furniture design

Jack Fearon, a plumber by trade, and his brother Mark, a boilermaker, originally specialized in constructing large-scale water trucks before making a name for themselves for their funky, sculptural furniture pieces. Their pathway from industrial fabrication to furniture design began from their trade days when they designed their first piece, ‘The Chub’, by playing around with some metal off-cuts from a tank in their warehouse, shaping it into a curvy stool.

This piece became the catalyst for their ever-growing collection which has since expanded to include coffee tables, consoles, and beds in the same playfully distinct silhouette and vibrant hues. Each furniture object is handcrafted from aluminum, ensuring both durability and sustainability, as well as means to experiment with form. ‘We love experimenting with colours and proportions, and aluminium gives us the perfect base to work from,’ notes Jack. ‘Most of all, we want to make our work colourful, strong and make it last.’

all images courtesy of the author

bold and sculptural

Recently, Jack and Mark Fearon have shifted their focus towards experimenting with crafting one-of-a-kind pieces and custom commissions that transcend mere furniture and stand as bold works of art. The pair’s vision is rooted in the desire for their creations to be cherished for generations to come, possibly even becoming future antiques. Jack expresses his hopes, stating: ‘Our hope is that our pieces will have a long life and be passed down through generations.’

Though they spent their youth working in trades, the Fearon brothers have always held a keen interest in design and creativity. In his early twenties, Jack launched a gallery on the Gold Coast called ‘Comb’ with a friend, which eventually evolved into a clothing and design company. Consolidating his experience in creativity and fabrication, Jack then launched FEARON with his brother Mark to create unconventional and playful furniture unlike anything else on the market at the time. The pieces are notably sculptural and visually striking, but are designed with practical functionality in mind. ‘We don’t think our pieces are there just to look good… We love seeing our pieces in people’s homes and in galleries, restaurants and hotels, with things all over them. They’re for real life,’ he says.

the duo originally specialized in industrial fabrication before delving into the furniture design industry

FEARON hand-crafts playful aluminum furniture

each object is handcrafted from aluminum, ensuring both durability and sustainability

each piece is designed with practical functionality in mind

‘We want to make our work colourful, strong and make it last,’ says Jack Fearon

the custom commissions transcend mere furniture and stand as bold works of art

the pieces fuse the aesthetics of industrial and playful furniture design

FEARON’s first piece, ‘The Chub’, crafted from metal off-cuts from a tank in their warehouse

project info:

designer: FEARON

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom