Mavimatt × Eddy Maniez: The UFO Armchair With Swarovski Crystals

A meeting between Italian design and Eddy Maniez’s artistic language gave rise to a truly singular UFO Armchair. The French contemporary artist, whose works are featured in the international catalog of Eden Gallery, approached Mavimatt with the idea of transforming the armchair’s shell through 25,000 hand-applied Swarovski crystals and sculpted silicone details. The result is a one-of-a-kind artwork, signed and numbered 1/1, created at the Mavimatt atelier in Italy after several days of meticulous work.

Eddy Maniez, Eden Gallery, and the Mavimatt Collaboration

The project began when Eddy Maniez contacted Mavimatt to propose an artistic interpretation of the UFO Armchair.

The French artist is recognized for his distinctive approach to contemporary art, combining silicone and Swarovski crystals to create textured, three-dimensional surfaces that interact with light.

His creations are also featured by Eden Gallery, an international contemporary art gallery presenting artists working across different creative disciplines.

The UFO’s circular silhouette, flowing lines, and sculptural proportions offered an unusual starting point for Maniez’s artistic approach.

The goal was not to apply a conventional decorative finish, but to bring Maniez’s artistic vision into conversation with Mavimatt’s original design, while preserving the armchair’s functional purpose.

From France to the Mavimatt Atelier in Italy

To carry out the project, Maniez traveled from France with his team and spent several days at the Mavimatt atelier.

Some working days involved up to twelve hours of careful manual application, requiring patience, precision, and continuous attention to the curved surface.

Mavimatt prepared the armchair with a carbon fiber shell featuring a Blue Chameleon finish, characterized by shifting blue reflections, and soft blue velvet upholstery.

These materials established the color palette and provided the foundation for Maniez’s distinctive artistic treatment, allowing him to develop a composition around the original sculptural form.

25,000 Swarovski Crystals and Hand-Applied Silicone

The most demanding stage was the transformation of the entire outer shell.

25,000 Swarovski crystals were individually placed by hand, following the armchair’s curves and creating an intricate reflective surface. Silicone reliefs, characteristic of Maniez’s artistic practice, were added to give the composition texture and depth.

Together, the crystals and silicone produce an appearance that changes as light moves across the surface.

The blue finish contributes subtle variations in tone, while the velvet upholstery provides a softer contrast within the seating area.

Rather than concealing the original form, the artistic intervention follows the UFO’s geometry and makes its sculptural qualities more apparent, bringing together functional furniture design and contemporary artistic expression.

A One-of-One UFO Armchair, Signed and Numbered 1/1

The completed creation, Mavimatt × Eddy Maniez, is a single artwork signed by the artist and numbered 1/1.

It is not a limited series of matching armchairs, but an individual piece whose identity comes from the direct artistic work carried out on its shell.

Collaborating with an artist whose work is presented internationally, including through Eden Gallery, represents a meaningful connection between Mavimatt and the contemporary art world.

Welcoming Maniez and his team into the atelier demonstrated how Italian craftsmanship, functional furniture design, and artistic experimentation can meet within one recognizable object.

Photographs and a dedicated video preserve the story of the collaboration, from the hand-applied details to the finished UFO Armchair, illustrating the creative dialogue between Mavimatt and international contemporary art.