Body Table by Atelier van Lieshout

Atelier van Lieshout
Body Table, 2005

Designed by Atelier Van Lieshout in 2005, the Body Table is a playful and unconventional piece that combines sculpture and furniture. Made from polyester and fiberglass, the table is shaped like a female body, transforming a familiar human form into a functional object for everyday use.

The design challenges the traditional idea of what a table should look like. Instead of a standard rectangular shape, its organic form encourages people to gather, interact, and engage with one another in a different way. Originally created for public spaces, including the restaurant of the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam, the table was designed to make social interaction a natural part of the experience.

Like many of Atelier Van Lieshout’s works, the Body Table blurs the boundaries between art and design. It combines functionality with humour and provocation, inviting people to see everyday furniture from a new perspective. By turning the human body into the structure of the table, the design explores themes that are central to the studio’s work: the relationship between people, objects, and the spaces they share.

The Body Table was showcased at the Smart Deco II exhibition by Droog in 2007 in Milan. Smart Deco II explored a fresh approach to decoration, in which technology, creativity, and craftsmanship came together. The exhibition brought together designers from different countries who experimented with new materials and production methods, creating objects that went beyond traditional furniture and interior design. The result was a collection of innovative and playful designs that combined technical innovation with imagination and emotion.