Refractory is a Chicago-based furniture, lighting and objects brand that produces rigorously crafted works in a language that is distinct within American and contemporary design landscapes. Founded by Angie West and Alberto Vélez, the studio embraces a fascination with materiality, a deep respect for craft as an integral aspect of design. The studio draws from a deep love and reverence for the terrain and geology of the frontier, and each work is one-of-a-kind, a result of heat, of chemical interaction, and of the hand. The studio is engaging in an open-ended renaissance of American artisanship and small-scale urban manufacturing.
Designer Profile