FERMI began in mid 2025 as an extension of my studio practice. I’m a painter by training and my work has long moved between making images as well as objects. Before FERMI existed, I had already created a few sculptural lamps as unique artworks. These were slow, labor-intensive pieces that took weeks to complete and were shown and sold as singular objects. They functioned as lighting, but they were conceived first as sculpture.

As I began paying closer attention to some of the contemporary lighting studios working with 3D printing, places like Wooj, Crème Atelier, and Outil.li, I became interested in the possibility of translating that sculptural language into a more repeatable format without losing its character. I already had several printers and some 3D software skills, so I approached the project like a new body of work: through extended prototyping, iteration, and formal refinement.

Most 3D printed lamps emphasize the shade, taking advantage of the technology’s ability to produce thin, intricate shells. I wanted to focus more on the base as the primary formal element. Each form is built from a dialogue between organic volumes and playful geometric interruptions, with an biomorphic quality. The lamps are grounded, meant to feel stable, tactile, and materially confident rather than overly decorative or fragile.

Functionally, the lamps are straightforward and deliberate. Every piece is dimmable using a simple, physical control. No apps or remotes, no programmed behaviors, just direct control over light and atmosphere.

The name FERMI comes from the Fermi Paradox: the question of why, in a universe so vast, we have yet to encounter evidence of extraterrestrial life. The paradox is speculative, elegant, and faintly unsettling, qualities I was drawn to when thinking about objects that feel alive without being overly illustrative.

FERMI launches with three core designs, each available in a range of colors. All lamps are 3D-printed and assembled by me in my Brooklyn studio, produced in limited quantities due to the time required to print, finish, and assemble each piece. The pricing reflects a balance between accessibility and the realities of small-batch, studio-based production.

These lamps are meant to sit somewhere between a functional design object and an affordable sculpture. If you choose to live with one, I hope it reveals itself slowly over time.

Jeremy

My personal artwork can be viewed at jeremyolson.com