In Conversation with Christopher Boots

We spoke with Christopher Boots, Founder and Creative Director of his namesake studio, about the origins of his practice, the power of collaboration, and how light can transform not just a space – but the way we feel within it.

How did the Christopher Boots studio begin? What was the moment or idea that started it all?

The idea wasn’t so much a lightning bolt as it was a slow burn – a lifetime of collecting, questioning, and refining. Rocks in my pockets as a child, sketchbooks stacked high, ideas scribbled in the margins. The studio was born on 11-11-11, but its origins trace back to those early walks along the beach with my mum, collecting quartz and wondering about the stories held in stone. In truth, it began with curiosity – about how light can shape space, how objects can hold meaning, how we might honour the natural world while creating within it.

What role does collaboration play in shaping each piece, especially with artisans like glass blowers or stone masons?

Collaboration is the heartbeat of what we do. No piece is born in isolation – it emerges through dialogue, friction, and rhythm. A glass blower might teach us something about breath, a metal worker about tension, a stone mason about patience. We work with artisans whose hands carry knowledge passed down over generations – their touch, their intuition, becomes part of the piece.

How does working with architects and designers influence the outcome of a collection or custom piece?

It’s like responding to a poem mid-verse. Architects and designers present a context – a rhythm, a palette, a set of constraints – and within that, we explore. Sometimes they come to us with a clear vision, other times with a question. Either way, it’s a conversation. The pieces we create are shaped not just by materials but by the spaces they’re destined for – spaces imagined, drawn, or detailed by others. When someone truly understands space, form, and feeling, it allows us to create something more nuanced and attuned. It becomes about resonance – emotional, spatial, even spiritual.

In what ways does your work transform a space beyond just lighting it?

Light is the most subtle sculptor. It can soften or sharpen, quieten or amplify. But beyond that, the objects we create carry presence – they’re not passive. They draw your eye, invite touch, and stir memory. The way they interact with space isn’t just functional – it’s emotional. They create mood, tempo, a sense of occasion. Sometimes, a piece anchors a room; sometimes, it lets the architecture breathe. I often say we’re in the business of making future relics – things that feel like they’ve always belonged, even when they’re brand new.

What does the future look like for the Christopher Boots studio? Are there new materials, ideas, or directions you are excited to explore?

We’re always looking forward – but with a deep reverence for what’s come before. There are new materials on the horizon, particularly recycled and repurposed glass, which is a beautiful paradox: waste transformed into wonder. I’m also interested in furniture again and how we might translate our material language into different typologies. But more than anything, we’re seeking to create experiences. That might take the form of a Salon dinner series, a publication, or a piece of sound. We’re building a world – slowly, intentionally – one object, one collaboration, one moment at a time.

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