COX LONDON WHERE NATURE TAKES FORM

Images courtesy of Cox London and written.id

The Art of Making

There is something quietly alive in the work of Cox London. Forged iron curves like branches, bronze takes on the presence of something found in nature, while hand-finished surfaces reveal the traces of time, touch and making. Founded by sculptors Christopher and Nicola Cox, the British atelier creates furniture, lighting and objects where art and function meet through a deeply tactile approach to craftsmanship.

Nature has always been a source of curiosity for the duo. Its forms, textures and rhythms are translated through material and hand, turning organic references into sculptural pieces with a sense of presence. Bronze is cast through the lost-wax process, iron is forged by hand, and every surface is patiently finished to bring out its individual character.

That sensitivity to material is rooted in their early lives. Christopher grew up surrounded by decorative arts, with three generations of his family working as antique dealers. After studying Fine Art Sculpture at Wimbledon School of Art in the 1990s, he developed specialist skills in antique metalwork restoration, including chandelier making and the conservation of historic pieces.

Nicola, meanwhile, moved from Auckland to London in 1989 and went on to graduate with First Class Honours in Fine Art Sculpture from Wimbledon School of Art. Her experience spans bronze foundries, glass studios and restoration workshops, alongside exhibiting her own work and producing pieces for other artists. Both found their early careers shaped by an enduring interest in making things by hand.

They met while studying sculpture, where a shared fascination with process, materials and the natural world soon became the foundation of both their creative and personal partnership. In 2002, they began their studio practice in the garage of their North London home. They married in 2004, continuing to build the practice side by side, both artistically and practically.

What began as a small, deeply personal practice gradually evolved into Cox London, formally established as a business in 2005. Its philosophy has remained rooted in slow design and nature-led forms, while the scale of the practice has grown considerably. Today, the atelier brings together artisans, designers, engineers and finishing specialists, producing limited-edition and bespoke works from its London studio.

Narinder Arora | Carl Blücher

At the heart of this process is a considered relationship with materials. Lost-wax bronze and hand-forged iron remain central to the Cox London vocabulary, alongside patinated metals, brass, natural stone, rich woods, textiles and glass. Rather than simply imitating nature, these materials are transformed into new silhouettes through the sensitivity of the maker’s hand.

Presented by Interni Cipta Selaras

“At our core, Cox London embraces a philosophy centered around the nature within. It’s a credo that celebrates an unwavering dedication to forming lighting, furniture, and objects that resonate with meaning,” says Nicola.

That philosophy is reflected in how Cox London has grown. As CEO and co-founder, Nicola has helped shape an atelier where training, collaboration and specialist skills remain central. Her leadership has been recognised with the Princess Royal Training Award and the Fellowship of the City & Guilds of London Institute, its highest honour.

Yet growth has never meant losing the intimacy of the making process. Each piece is produced in-house by highly skilled craftspeople and artists, with hand-applied patination ensuring that every finish carries its own character.

“This dedication results in pieces that invite viewers to experience a sense of wonder and connection. It represents a retreat from the clinical and impersonal, embracing nature’s beauty through the allure of fine craftsmanship,” adds Nicola.

That sensibility can also be felt in the way Cox London presents its work. At its Pimlico Road showroom in London, sculptural lighting, furniture and objects come together almost like an exhibition, allowing each piece to be experienced within a larger visual landscape. The space reflects the sensibility of the atelier itself—where organic forms, rich materials and meticulous craftsmanship are given room to speak, blurring the line between a design showroom and a gallery of functional works of art.

From this deeply rooted approach to making, Cox London is now introducing its sculptural furniture, lighting and objects to Indonesia. Selected works, including The Golden Oak Tree, Magnolia Grandiflora, Rainforest Grove, The Magnolia, The Golden Bough and Monstera, among others, reveal the atelier’s fascination with the natural world, translating branches, foliage and organic forms into sculptural pieces through an intricate dialogue between material and hand.

For Managing Director Narinder Arora, the arrival carries a personal significance. Having spent 17 years living and working in Indonesia, he brings a longstanding connection with the country and its culture of making. He is also drawn to the distinctive craftsmanship found across Indonesia, from the depth of traditional techniques to the individual ways local artisans work with materials such as glass.

Narinder sees the opportunity as more than entering a new market. For him, it is about creating a dialogue between Cox’s sculptural language and Indonesia’s own rich tradition of craftsmanship—a natural connection for a studio so deeply rooted in material and the hand of the maker.

As the atelier enters new markets, preserving its identity remains equally important. Head of Business Development, Carl Blücher points to Cox’s British character and craftsmanship as essential to what makes the brand distinctive. With no outside investors behind the business, Christopher and Nicola have shaped its growth independently, allowing the studio to evolve while staying close to its foundations.

Carl also explains that this independence informs how Cox positions its work: somewhere between art and design. Its pieces are conceived as “functional works of art”—objects intended to be lived with and used, while retaining the presence and character of sculpture.

The introduction also unfolded in Jakarta on 3 September 2026, when Narinder and Carl joined a media preview hosted by Written.id at Silk Bistro, Menteng, sharing Cox London’s sculptural language and philosophy with the Indonesian audience.

For Indonesia, Cox London offers a natural meeting point between British sculptural practice and a culture with its own deep tradition of making. From a North London garage to an internationally recognised atelier, Christopher and Nicola Cox have built their practice around a simple yet enduring belief: that objects can carry feeling, memory and meaning. Now, as Cox London enters Indonesia, that philosophy opens a new dialogue shaped by nature, skilled hands, British craftsmanship and the time required to create something with lasting character.

Cox London
46 Pimlico Road
London SW1W 8LP
T: +44 (0) 203 328 9506
www.coxlondon.com
@coxlondon