Rencontre No. 10, 2024
Phil Luangrath was born in Laos and immigrated to the US in 1980. He graduated in art from CA State University Long Beach in 1991. Since college, he held many odd jobs to avoid becoming a professional artist. Becoming a self-employed product designer was the farthest thing he deviated from his fine art training. Growing up, there was never a blank page in his notebooks that wasn’t filled with all sorts of pencil drawings. If not drawing, he would be daydreaming about traveling to a far far places.These days, he realizes his dream by traveling the world collaborating with different artisans and jewelers that help produce his designs, many of which are drawn from the richness of his travel experiences.
Favio grew up in Argentina and came to the US when he was 18 years old. He started collecting tin toys when his uncle would bring home a suitcase load when returning home from many trips abroad. Everyday after school, at the age of six, his father would take him to his metal factory where he started to play and learn how to work with metal. Favio has a love for exotic cars that began when he got his first BMW at the age of 16; a surprised from his parents hoping to deter him from immigrating to the US. His passion reflects his collaborative work in Tin Toy Art.
The two met in 1996 and have been in partnership ever since. Their first and continuing collaboration is metal fabrication. In their Miami art studio, Phil and Favio fabricate decorative objects, occasional furniture and lighting to the design trades, interior designers, and high end retailers like Neiman Marcus, Gump’s, the Ritz Carlton, and many other fine boutiques throughout the US. Within the last decade, they have added vermeil jewelry and exotic skin leather goods into their design portfolios. As of 2018, they have been able to refocus their direction to pursue an art career.
Favio grew up in Argentina and came to the US when he was 18 years old. He started collecting tin toys when his uncle would bring home a suitcase load when returning home from many trips abroad. Everyday after school, at the age of six, his father would take him to his metal factory where he started to play and learn how to work with metal. Favio has a love for exotic cars that began when he got his first BMW at the age of 16; a surprised from his parents hoping to deter him from immigrating to the US. His passion reflects his collaborative work in Tin Toy Art.
The two met in 1996 and have been in partnership ever since. Their first and continuing collaboration is metal fabrication. In their Miami art studio, Phil and Favio fabricate decorative objects, occasional furniture and lighting to the design trades, interior designers, and high end retailers like Neiman Marcus, Gump’s, the Ritz Carlton, and many other fine boutiques throughout the US. Within the last decade, they have added vermeil jewelry and exotic skin leather goods into their design portfolios. As of 2018, they have been able to refocus their direction to pursue an art career.