Cristian Zuzunaga (b. Barcelona, 1978) is the son of a Peruvian father and a Catalan mother. He gave up his biology studies and his career as a professional model to study Typo/Graphic Design at the London College of Communication followed by an MA at the Royal College of Art in London, where he has lived for more than twenty years.
Though the biological studies did not last, the practice of magnifying did–he has always been fascinated by the microscope and the way in which it enables one to magnify an object–and to this day, breaking down patterns and images into their in nitesimal components remains at the core of his work.
Cristian’s work is broad in scope–includes photography, video, letterpress, screen printing, sculpture, textile and furniture design–and it is informed by the psychology of colour, architecture and the urban environment, nature, Eastern and Western philosophy, alchemy, anthropology, sociology and the psychology of Carl Gustav Jung.
His designs and works of art are re action on and of what it means to be human today. In 2010 he founded Zuzunaga brand, with the desire to create timeless, non-gender speci c and sustainable home and fashion textiles and accessories.
Zuzunaga has won major accolades such as the Augustus Martin Award for Best Use of Print, in 2007; Elle Decoration International Design Award for Best Fabric Design, Skyline curtain collection for Kvadrat, in 2011; ICFF New York, 1st Prize for Textiles, Handwoven collection, in 2012 and the Wallpaper Award for Best Pixellation, in 2014.
Cristian combines his own manufacturing with collaborative work for companies and institutions like the Tate Gallery, Kvadrat, Camper, Ligne Roset, Fabergé, Nanimarquina and BD Barcelona Design, and also exhibits his work in a number of galleries around the world.
