
Chaos Chair
<p>Discouraged by the uniformity of approaches to sofa design, designer Konstantin Grcic created Chaos. As its name suggests, rather than encouraging users to sit comfortably, Chaos triggers a sense of unease. Although the chair is actually stable, its compact, angular form appears to balance precariously on a thin metal stand, giving the impression that it will tip over if sat on and thus encouraging users to perch rather than recline. As Grcic attested, this is the point: “When I am sitting in front of someone or in a public space, I am more comfortable sitting on the edge of a chair and leaning into a conversation rather than lounging back in my seat.” Envisioned for use in public spaces such as lobbies or waiting rooms, the chair’s forked silhouette was determined by tracing a variety of seating positions into the lines of the design.</p>
Catalogue
- Year
- 2001
- Dimensions
- 74.3 × 90 × 50 cm (29 1/4 × 35 7/16 × 19 11/16 in.)
- Collection
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Artist
- Konstantin Grcic
Artist

Konstantin Grcic is a German industrial designer working primarily in furniture, lighting, and tableware since the 1990s. His practice is characterized by a rigorous exploration of form and material constraint, where minimal aesthetic intervention meets functional precision. His work has been produced by leading manufacturers including Flos, Magis, and Kartell, and is held in the permanent collections of major design museums including MoMA and the Vitra Design Museum. Grcic's approach treats industrial production not as a limitation but as a fundamental generator of form.
Full artist profile →More
More by Konstantin Grcic
"Man Machine" Chair
2014 · Glass and metal
Waver Chair
2011 · Fabric and steel
360º Chair
2009 · Aluminum, PU foam, powder-coated steel
Accento Cutlery (Set of 36 Pieces)
2009 · Stainless steel
360° Stool
2009 · Steel, die-cast aluminum, polyurethane and epoxy resin
Monza Chair
2009 · Ash, reinforced polypropylene
Record
Verified by WattsOS- Artist
- Konstantin Grcic
- Year
- 2001
- Dimensions
- 74.3 × 90 × 50 cm (29 1/4 × 35 7/16 × 19 11/16 in.)
- Watts ID
- WW-2001-134816
Source
- Collection
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Source
- aic
- Reference
- View at source
- Status
- verified





