Mickael koska
MAGAZINE · INTERVIEW

Mickaël Koska

Mickaël Koska is a French designer based in Marseille whose practice spans collectible furniture, lighting, and sculptural objects. Founded in 2013, his studio draws inspiration from the landscapes, craftsmanship, and natural resources of the Mediterranean, creating works that balance organic forms with refined functionality.

Working closely with local artisans and traditional manufacturers, Koska combines instinctive design with meticulous craftsmanship to develop timeless collections distinguished by their poetic character, expressive materiality, and contemporary elegance.

Let's know more about

Interview

Where were you born and where are you from?

I was born in Marseille, in France.

What is your first memory connected to the art world?

When I was a child traveling in New Zealand, I discovered for the first time the meaning of contemporary art.

Have you always worked in the art/design field?

No, I’ve tried my hand at several jobs, always with a creative dimension, because that’s what’s driven me since I was a child.

What led you to design creation?

After a trip to Australia, I started designing furniture for my own needs, and this marked the beginning of my creative process.

Could you describe a typical day of your work?

A cup of coffee, a few stretches, a plan for the day, and off to the workshop, where there are many different tasks. But the days I enjoy the most are those when I have the time to concentrate exclusively on one project.

Why did you choose the specific materials you work with?

I like to discover materials for their technical and aesthetic characteristics, I try them out, and some attract me more than others in their possibilities.

  • Cactus Velvet Round Table by Mickael Koska 5
  • Cactus Big Velvet Lamp by Mickael Koska 2
What are the technical particularities of your creations?

My pieces are produced in collaboration with local craftsmen and showcase exacting expertise. It’s the details that make the difference.

What advice could you give to beginning artists who would like to create sculptural design works?

Start by having fun and observing the reaction.

If your works had to belong to a design movement, how would you define it?

None, in my opinion.

What designers and artists have influenced you?

Pierre Paulin, Charles & Ray Eames, Joseph-André Motte, Charlotte Perriand.

What contemporary designers do you appreciate?

Mathieu Lehanneur, Jaime Hayon, Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance.

What contemporary artists, in any kind of art, have you been inspired by?

Anish Kapoor, Subodh Gupta, Olafur Eliasson.

If you had to summarize your creations in one word or sentence, what would it be?

Poetic, natural, and assumed.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Embrace your dreams – life’s too short!

“Start by having fun and observing the reaction.”

The Questionnaire

The Questions

(The Proust Questionnaire is a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust.
Other historical figures who have answered confession albums are Oscar Wilde,
Karl Marx, Arthur Conan Doyle, Stéphane Mallarmé, Paul Cézanne…)

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Living without expectations, right now

What is your greatest fear?

Not evolving

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

My sometimes extreme perfectionism

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Lack of commitment

Which living person do you most admire?

My son

What is your greatest extravagance?

My spontaneity

What is your current state of mind?

Create, enjoy and collaborate

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Temperance

What is the quality you most like in a man?

I pass

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

I pass

  • Cactus Velvet Round Table by Mickael Koska 3
  • Cactus Big Velvet Lamp by Mickael Koska 4
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

“It’s incredible”

Which talent would you most like to have?

Absolute clairvoyance

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Sometimes I’m too impulsive

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

My personal evolution

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

A migratory bird

Where would you most like to live?

On a new planet where everything has yet to be created

What is your most treasured possession?

My vintage motorbike, Honda cub 70cc

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

I pass

What is your favorite occupation?

Getting out into nature and connecting with it

What is your most marked characteristic?

Optimistic

What do you most value in your friends?

Their personalities and sense of humor

Who are your favorite writers?

Amélie Nothomb & Émile Zola

Who is your hero of fiction?

Mister Bean

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

Pablo Picasso

Who are your heroes in real life?

My parents

What are your favorite names?

Names of American origin

What is it that you most dislike?

Searching for my words

What is your greatest regret?

Not having moved abroad when I was younger

How would you like to die?

Old, wise and accomplished, surrounded to my relatives

What is your motto?

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger

  • Cactus Big Velvet Lamp by Mickael Koska 3

“Embrace your dreams – life’s too short!”

SHARE : 

Leave a Reply

YOU MAY ALSO LIKE