Meta-Morphosa

Patricia Urquiola (Oviedo, 1961) is a globally acclaimed architect, art director, and industrial designer, celebrated for her innovative work with leading brands such as Flos, Cassina, Kettal, Kvadrat, BMW, Boeing, Louis Vuitton, and Missoni. Her designs are imaginative, eclectic, playful, and often experimental, with a strong commitment to sustainability. The exhibition Meta-Morphosa at CID Grand-Hornu, part of Europalia Espana, highlights Studio Patricia Urquiola’s research from the past five years. In a world increasingly shaped by climate change and artificial intelligence, the exhibition explores transformation—how materials, aesthetics, and perceptions of beauty evolve. Featuring functional objects, visionary projects, and experiments with innovative materials and unexpected combinations, Meta-Morphosa presents a new aesthetic characterised by formal and cultural mutation. The exhibition invites visitors to embrace change, celebrating creativity, adaptability, and the beauty of transformation, reflecting Urquiola’s boundless imagination and her commitment to shaping design for a rapidly changing world.

Text in English and French.

Patricia Urquiola was born in Oviedo, Spain, and studied architecture at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. She has received the Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts from the Spanish government and the Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic. In 2023, she was appointed Honorary Ambassador of Marca España. In 2024, she became a member of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando and was awarded the title of Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic by the President of Italy for her achievements. In 2001, she opened her own studio in Milan, working across architecture, design, art, creative direction, strategic consulting, installations, graphic design, and concept development. Patricia Urquiola has been the Art Director of Cassina since 2015 and collaborates with major national and international companies including Flos, Moroso, Driade, GAN, Andreu World, Glas Italia, cc-tapis, Kettal, Kvadrat, Haworth, BMW, Boeing, Loewe, Louis Vuitton, and Missoni. Her most significant architectural projects include Casa Brera, Six Senses Rome, the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Barcelona, Das Stue Hotel in Berlin, the spa at the Four Seasons Hotel in Milan, and Il Sereno Hotel on Lake Como. She has also designed showrooms and installations for Cassina, the Venice Biennale, BMW, Missoni, Moroso, Ferrari, Swarovski, and Santoni.