This Melbourne based design studio takes an exceptional approach to furniture. The ambitious project emerged during the peak of Melbourne's lockdowns between 2020 and 2022. Ben Jones and Basil Papoutsidis combined their respective sculpture and painting practices. The result is Mud Top - a collective that continues to explore and experiment with industrial processes through imaginative, engaging furniture designs, welcoming custom commissions of any scale.
Ben Jones has been a Graphic Artist and Creative Director since 2008, working mainly in the skateboarding and music industries. In addition to his design work, he has exhibited his paintings both locally and internationally for nearly 15 years. Basil Papoutsidis, after earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts from the University of Melbourne in 2014, became a licensed plumber by 2020. Over the past decade, he has regularly showcased his sculptural work, while continuing to experiment with industrial metalworking techniques.
The collective first met in 2015 through a mutual friend and have since shared studio spaces, travelled, and worked together. The idea for Mud Top emerged during Melbourne's lockdown in 2021/2022 when Ben was creating wall-hanging mosaics at home. Inspired to take the concept further and integrate the mosaics into functional pieces, Ben shared the idea with Basil, who was immediately excited. After spending over 12 months sketching, brainstorming, and prototyping while experimenting with materials, they secured a workshop space in Heidelberg West, where they continue to develop their ideas and fabricate their designs.
Mud Top creates a lively range of furniture and exclusive objects from a blend of collaboration and play. Each piece is mutually imagined and sketched allowing them to be redefined throughout the handmade process in their studio workshop. The objects are characterised by Ben's painting style, which explores generations of community and their artefacts, and Basil's' sculptural practice, which focuses on industrial processes and materials.
The design process commences with Ben digitising the fabrication drawings. As Basil initiates the fabrication, Ben simultaneously works on the mosaic imagery. Once the imagery is finalised and the metalwork is complete, they select finishes and colours, bringing their works to fruition. The fusion of influences and collaborative work processes culminates in creations such as Table Horse, Table Tennis, and the Oasis Coat Rack. All objects are created with the intention to be usable for indoor and outdoor spaces.
The inaugural series, titled Table Tennis, was inspired by Ben being an avid tennis player. It composes a playful interpretation of the tennis ball. Designed to comfortably accommodate three people, the table stands at an ideal height of 755mm, with a top diameter of 915mm. It features bouncy legs and mosaic tabletops that showcase colours inspired by tennis court surfaces, including grass, clay, and carpet.
The title of their series, Table Horse, plays on words that are explored as motifs in the mosaic compositions atop the fabricated steel tables. This new series was presented as part of the National Gallery of Victoria’s Design Week 2024. Each table features a base made from mild steel and aluminium, which is meticulously cut, folded, rolled, and welded before being coated to the highest professional standard. The table tops are adorned with broken tiles, carefully arranged to create original and organic compositions in each piece.
The subjects of these designs draw inspiration from the charm of Western films, cowboys, and rodeo culture. The exhibition aims to illustrate that furniture can be pictorial, playful, and functional in any setting: a lively party, a restaurant, or a serene courtyard.
The duo is currently developing a single product that can be utilised in multiple ways within a home. Titled 'Times Table', this object stays tied to the play on words while distinguishing itself from their previous realised designs, by incorporating custom and modular elements. Mud Top continues to innovate and expand its offerings, pushing the boundaries of creativity and craftsmanship. Each object not only serves a practical function but also tells a story, drawing inspiration from cultural influences and artistic expressions. Mud Top’s distinctive collections manifest as a playful fusion of art and sculpture, designed for use in indoor and outdoor spaces.
If you are interested in learning more about Mud Top's product range you can head to their website. Keep up to date on their product range and news via the Mud Top Instagram.
