Arturo Álvarez

Arturo Álvarez is a Spanish designer born in Galicia in 1964, known for his deeply artisanal and emotional approach to lighting design. Self-taught, he developed an early fascination with materials, handcrafting and light, which he sees not just as a functional tool but as a language capable of conveying emotions. His beginnings were marked by glasswork, particularly the traditional techniques of stained glass and Tiffany, which he revisited to create contemporary pieces nourished by references to Art Nouveau and Art Deco. Gradually, his style evolved towards more abstract, sensitive and organic forms, inspired by nature, the human body and the interplay of light and shadow.

In 1994, he founded his own lighting brand, which would bear his name for over two decades. Under his impetus, the company became an international player in lighting design, thanks to creations that blended material innovation, craftsmanship and visual poetry. One of his most remarkable contributions is the development of new materials, including SIMETECH, a flexible, translucent mesh that he transforms into delicate, expressive luminous volumes. His luminaires, always hand-crafted, are distinguished by their airy silhouettes, rich textures and ability to create warm, enveloping atmospheres. His work has won numerous international awards and has been included in various exhibitions and collections.

In 2020, Arturo Álvarez decided to sell his company in order to devote himself fully to a more artistic and experimental approach. He then turned his attention to light sculpture and installation, seeking to go beyond the limits of lighting to create pieces that question intimacy, human relationships and space. In this new phase, light remains his preferred material, but is used to express himself more freely, introspectively and conceptually. These works, often produced in limited series or as one-offs, embody her desire to work as closely as possible to emotion, detaching light from its utilitarian function to turn it into a sensitive substance.

Today, Arturo Álvarez is considered one of the leading figures in Spanish lighting design. His legacy is based on the fusion of craftsmanship, technology, emotion and humanity. Through his creations, he has helped transform the luminaire into an expressive, living object, capable of inhabiting space in a poetic way. His current research, more artistic and introspective, extends this vision by exploring the boundaries between design, sculpture and light.