These Textural Wall Creations Will Have You Asking "Can I Touch That?"
In their New Mexico studio, Submaterial turns raw materials like wool felt, cork, metal, glass, and wood into geometric works of art.
In their New Mexico studio, Submaterial turns raw materials like wool felt, cork, metal, glass, and wood into geometric works of art.
In a world dominated by mass production, Submaterial is rare proof that craftsmanship and scale don’t have to be at odds. At first glance, the brand’s wall art, acoustic panels, mirrors, and architectural room dividers seem impossibly precise—defined by clean lines, rich textures, and a striking interplay of color and form. But look closer, and the craftsmanship reveals itself in every detail. Each piece is handmade in Submaterial’s New Mexico studio, where skilled fabricators shape wool felt, cork, and wood into intricate patterns.
Diade No. 5 features an open design that incorporates petal-shaped forms framed in a style reminiscent of midcentury modern breeze blocks.
Photo by Patrick Coulie
Founded in 2006 by David Hamlin, Submaterial occupies a unique space between art and design. What began in a cottage in the Pacific Northwest has evolved into a 35,000-square-foot studio in New Mexico, where a team of 30 (including 25 talented craftspeople) produces objects of art that are as functional as they are beautiful—think wall art that doubles as acoustic panels, or artful mirrors that introduce an abstract play of light into an interior.
Submaterial’s pieces are striking works of art. The Meso panel, for example, features a built-up surface of concentric squares in vegetable-tanned cowhide.
Photo courtesy Submaterial
"I remember feeling frustrated at the dissonance between my desire to make things by hand and the demands of running a successful business," Hamlin says. That tension, rather than being a limitation, became the driving force behind Submaterial’s ethos—one that embraces the beauty of craft alongside the ability to produce at scale.
The Orion Flat wall panel channels the graphic patterns of the 1960s. You can choose a single color for the three layers of felt or add a pop of color to any layer of the surface.
Photo courtesy Submaterial
See the full story on Dwell.com: These Textural Wall Creations Will Have You Asking "Can I Touch That?"
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