Francis Sultana

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Francis Sultana
Born
Francis Sultana

February 1973 (age 51)
London, London, England

Francis Sultana is a Maltese-born furniture and interior designer.[1] He is regularly featured in the annual AD100 list compiled by Architectural Digest.[2] The Times says he is "a furniture designer and decorating mastermind"[3] and also mentions his famous clients.[4] Financial Times How To Spend It magazine said "his baroque-meets-pop art style is making grand statements in an ever-widening circle of homes."[5] Living Etc magazine describes Sultana's style as "luxurious, bespoke-driven and sumptuous".[6] In 2018 Sultana was made Ambassador of Culture for Malta.[7] He was named as one of the Top 20 interior designers by Wallpaper magazine[8] and Top 100 Interior Designers by House & Garden magazine.[9] The Financial Times said of his first hotel project La Palma Hotel, Capri for Oetker Collection that it is "a glamorous new start for Capri's oldest hotel ".[10] In 2021 Sultana became custodian of The Hunting Lodge, the former home of British interior designers John Fowler and Nicky Haslam. ".[11] As well as running his own atelier, Sultana is also CEO of David Gill Gallery ".[12]

Background[edit]

Sultana grew up on the island of Gozo, and gave an Insiders Guide to Malta to the Financial Times How To Spend It magazine Malta: Interior Designer Francis Sultana's Favourite European Island.[13] "As a child," explains W Magazine [14] "a young Sultana would pour over copies of World of Interiors and House & Garden magazines" before he finally moved to London when he was 19. He began work at David Gill Gallery which he talks about in Elle Decor.[15] He became the gallerist to Dame Zaha Hadid[16] and created an exhibition celebrating her life and work at Masterpiece in 2016 which is described by London Evening Standard as "an exhibition to celebrate the other side of Zaha Hadid."[17]

Career[edit]

Francis Sultana is regularly featured in the prestigious AD100 list compiled by Architectural Digest magazine Architectural Digest .[18] In 2021 AD France listed Francis as a 'Grandmaster of Interior Design' placing him alongside the six great designers in the world of luxury interior design. His annual collections of furniture are shown at prestigious venues such as Claridges in London Narmina Collection, Wallpaper.[19] He was the only British-based designer to be invited to show at the AD Collections in Paris in 2017 held at the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris.[20] 2019 was the tenth anniversary of the studio. His debut book was published by Vendome in Fall 2019 entitled "Francis Sultana Designs & Interiors".[21] which the Sunday Times called "One of the best design books of 2019."[22]

Sultana has collaborated with some of the world's best luxury brands including Bonacina, with whom he launched a major collection at Milan's Salone di Mobile 2023 "[23] as well as Savoir Beds in the UK "[24] Ginori1975 and Galerie Diurne in Paris.

Sultana currently sits on the board of MICAS the new contemporary art and design space for Malta due to open in 2024 [25] and invited renowned artist and sculptor Ugo Rondinone to create a site specific piece which was launched in 2018 which was described by the Times of Malta as "a place for the people.".[26] In 2019 artist Pierre Huyghe exhibited "Exomind (Deep Water)" in the Wiedl il-Luq in Buskett Gardens, Valletta.[27] In 2022 US artist Michele Oka Doner exhibited The Palm Goddess of Malta and was featured in Airmail "[28]

Philanthropy[edit]

Francis Sultana sat on the Board for Rebuilding Childhoods for the NSPCC for eight years and oversaw the Pop Art Ball, the Surrealist Ball and the Neo-Romantic Gala at Masterpiece.[29][30] He currently sits on the International Council of the Victoria & Albert Museum for whom he chaired the Design Fund which supported the acquisition of contemporary design objects at the V&A from 2011 to 2015.[31] The Fund has enabled the museum to purchase a number of notable objects by designers such as Joris Laarman, Fredrikson Stallard, Hella Jongerius and nendo.[32] Sultana also sits on the International Council of the Design Museum and is co-head of the Cultural and Social Affairs Committee for the Serpentine Galleries, London. He was co-president of the jury for Pavilion of Art and Design London and is a jury member of PAD Paris.[33][34]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Designing a Legacy with Francis Sultana". www.maltasothebysrealty.com. Retrieved 4 Apr 2024.
  2. ^ "The Interior Designer Who Creates Statement Spaces Where Less Is More". Architectural Digest. December 12, 2018. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  3. ^ Hattersley, Giles (March 1, 2015). "Designer For The Super Rich". The Times. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  4. ^ Grainger, Lisa (November 3, 2018). "The Times Second Home? We've Got A Palace". The Times. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  5. ^ "Sultan of Design". Financial Times. November 23, 2013. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  6. ^ "Francis Sultana Designer Profile". Living Etc. December 18, 2017. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  7. ^ "Cultural Ambassador for Malta Named". Times Of Malta. February 9, 2018. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  8. ^ "Top 20 Interior Designers". Wallpaper. October 12, 2015. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  9. ^ "Top 100 Interior Designers". House & Garden. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  10. ^ "A glamorous new start for Capri's oldest hotel". Financial Times. June 13, 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  11. ^ "Francis Sultana talks taking on the lease of Nicky Haslam's former hunting lodge". House & Garden. October 14, 2021. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  12. ^ "Enter Designer Francis Sultana's London Atelier". Galerie.
  13. ^ Shollenbarger, Maria (May 14, 2018). "Francis Sultana's insider's guide to Malta and Gozo". howtospendit.ft.com. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  14. ^ "David Gill & Francis Sultana's London Home". W Magazine. October 29, 2015. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  15. ^ "Interview With Interior Designer Francis Sultana". Elle Decor. October 6, 2018. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  16. ^ "Zaha Hadid Design Exhibition At Masterpiece London". Dezeen. June 28, 2016. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  17. ^ "Exhibition Set To Celebrate Other Side Of Zaha Hadid". Evening Standard. June 24, 2016. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  18. ^ "AD100 2022". Architectural Digest. January 2022. Retrieved 2022-01-04.
  19. ^ "Francis Sultana Launches Narmina Collection". Wallpaper. September 20, 2017. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  20. ^ "Francis Sultana AD Collections". Interior Designer Magazine. February 28, 2017. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  21. ^ "Francis Sultana 'Design & Interiors'". Vendome. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  22. ^ Burroughs, Katrina. "The best design books of 2019".
  23. ^ "New indoor/Outdoor furniture collection by Francis Sultana". Times of Malta. 25 April 2023. Retrieved 2023-05-25.
  24. ^ "On World Sleep Day Discover the 21st Century Luxury of Savoir". Sphere Life. March 23, 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  25. ^ "Francis Sultana Talks Personal Taste". Financial Times How To Spend it. June 7, 2017. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  26. ^ "A Place For the People". Times of Malta. October 23, 2018. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  27. ^ "VisitMalta".
  28. ^ "Historica And Euphoric". Airmail. November 12, 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-12.
  29. ^ "At Home In Valletta With Interior Designer & Gallerist Francis Sultana". House & Garden. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  30. ^ "Celebrity Homes". The London Magazine. Archived from the original on 2017-06-14. Retrieved 2019-06-11.
  31. ^ "The V&A Announces New Acquisitions At Its Annual Design Fund Dinner". Wallpaper. November 7, 2014. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  32. ^ "The Design Fund". Victoria & Albert Museum. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  33. ^ "Interior Designer Francis Sultana Shares Inspirations". Daily Telegraph. June 23, 2017. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  34. ^ "Francis Sultana's Art Inspiration". Elite Traveler. 29 March 2017. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
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