Studio Job

Studio Job is a design studio founded in 1998 by Belgian-born designer Job Smeets (1969). The studio is known for its distinctive approach to contemporary design, combining craftsmanship, ornamentation, and a strong narrative quality. Through its work, Studio Job explores the boundaries between art and design, creating objects that resist conventional categorization.

Central to the studio’s practice is a highly detailed and expressive visual language. Drawing from a wide range of references, including historical motifs, popular culture, and symbolic imagery. Its works are characterized by intricate compositions and a strong sculptural presence. This layered approach results in objects that function simultaneously as decorative pieces and autonomous artworks.

Material plays a significant role within the studio’s work. Bronze is frequently used, alongside other high-quality materials, allowing for the creation of durable and finely crafted objects. These materials support a process in which traditional techniques are combined with contemporary forms, resulting in works that balance precision with expressive freedom.

Studio Job’s work often incorporates elements of exaggeration and humor, creating a tension between seriousness and play. This approach contributes to a visual language that is both accessible and complex, where ornamental richness is paired with conceptual depth. Through this combination, the studio reflects on themes related to culture, identity, and the role of objects within everyday life.

Operating at the intersection of fine art and applied design, Studio Job has developed a body of work that is widely recognized for its craftsmanship and distinct aesthetic. The studio’s objects engage with both historical and contemporary references, positioning them within a broader dialogue on the evolution of design.

Education

• Design Academy Eindhoven

Collections

• Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
• Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam
• Groninger Museum
• Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
• Victoria and Albert Museum
• The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
• Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
• Design Museum, London
• High Museum of Art
• Indianapolis Museum of Art
• Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
• Museum of Glass
• Noordbrabants Museum