Art Meets Design: DegreeArt x sofa.com x NM Design Present Kelly Jenkins’ “Tattooed” Furniture Collection
At the intersection of art, design, and craftsmanship, DegreeArt Gallery, sofa.com, and NM Design are proud to announce a unique collaboration celebrating British creativity. The partnership has resulted in two bespoke, art-led furniture pieces by artist Kelly Jenkins – The Tatau Bench and The Tatau Armchair – each hand-painted and embroidered to transform functional design into sculptural art by Kelly Jenkins.
The Tatau Bench – A Sculptural Dialogue Between Art and Place
TheTatau Bench is the result of a collaboration between Kelly Jenkins, NM Design, and DegreeArt Gallery, uniting sculptural form with a deep-rooted sense of place. Known for her practice that intertwines the visual language of architecture, geography, and British textile traditions, Jenkins draws inspiration from the shifting structures and rhythms of London itself.
Echoing the city’s architectural lines while embracing the fluidity of the River Thames, the bench embodies an elegant balance of solidity and movement. Each curve and surface is enriched with bespoke stencilling, hand-painting, and fine stitching, reflecting Jenkins’ background in textiles and her sensitivity to materiality.
More than a seat, The Tatau Bench is a sculptural gesture – a work that holds the body with the same care it gives to place and process. Designed as a focal point for interiors, it embodies the ongoing dialogue between art, design, and lived experience.
The Tatau Armchair – A Modern Reimagining of Turner’s Thames
At the heart of Kelly Jenkins’ latest residency with DegreeArt at Bankside stands a showstopping hand-embroidered and painted Armchair, created in collaboration with NM Design and sofa.com. This bespoke piece embodies Bankside’s creative, design-led spirit, celebrating British craftsmanship and the art of making.
Discussing her inspiration, Jenkins explains:
“The Armchair forms a continuous landscape, drawing inspiration from artwork created during my original Bankside Residency in 2022 and my previous explorations of the River Thames, which flows around the entire piece.
Rather than focusing on the urban stretches of the Thames, the design reflects the more suburban reaches of the river as it winds westward toward Richmond – an area of islands, wildlife, and painterly vistas immortalised by Turner in The Thames from Richmond Hill. My aim is to convey the Capital’s river in a quieter and more untamed character, resulting in a modern reimagining of Turner’s romantic view.”
A Celebration of Collaboration
Together, The Tatau Bench and The Tatau Armchair exemplify the shared vision of DegreeArt Gallery, NM Design, and sofa.com – a commitment to celebrating the craftsmanship and creativity that define contemporary British design. These pieces stand as enduring symbols of what can be achieved when art and function merge seamlessly.
The Tatau Armchair is on display at the Bankside Hotel Artist Studio as part of Kelly Jenkin's Showcase until the 23rd November 2025.
Kelly is available to commission. For enquiries:
Elinor Olisa | elinor@degreeart.com | +44 (0)7443 052 700
www.degreeart.com
