Kim Mupangilaï

Info
Design | Interior | Exhibitions | References | Research & Case Studies

CONTACT
hello@kimmupangilai.com
@pangilai

REPRESENTATION BY
Superhouse Gallery
New York, US

Objects With Narratives
Brussels, BE

ABOUT

Kim Mupangilaï is a Belgian-Congolese, New York-based Interior Architect, Designer, and Professor at Parsons School of Design. Her work explores the intersections of identity, culture, and history, crafting narratives that challenge conventions and inspire cross-cultural dialogue. By merging her dual heritage with contemporary design practices, Kim creates designs that resonate globally, bridging untold stories and cultural preservation through innovative approaches.

After earning a Bachelor’s in Graphic Design and a Master’s in Interior Architecture from the LUCA School of Arts in Belgium, Kim relocated to New York in 2018 to establish her practice. Her designs reflect resilience, ancestry, and the complexities of identity, pushing the boundaries of collectible design through materiality and storytelling.
Kim’s innovative approach has earned her global recognition, including the International Award Winner of the Boghossian Foundation 2024 and an Honoree for the AD100 Middle East & Africa 2024. Her Bina Chair, recognized by Hypebeast as one of the 100 Most Collectible Designs of the 21st Century, and the Bina Daybed, featured in the landmark design triennial OBJECTS: USA 2024 hosted by R&Company, showcase her distinctive blend of cultural influences and design excellence. Her work has been acquired by the Vitra Design Museum, solidifying her role as a leading voice in contemporary design.
Her designs have been featured in major exhibitions, including the “Making Home” Triennial at Cooper Hewitt Museum and the Brooklyn Museum’s new café installation in September 2024. This January, she will debut new pieces at the FOG Design+Art Fair in San Francisco, continuing her exploration of storytelling through design. Her ongoing research into Art Nouveau and Congolese colonial history underscores her commitment to layered narratives and cross-cultural dialogue.

Featured in books and prominent publications like Architectural Digest, The New York Times, Vogue, Hypebeast, and Surface Magazine, her work has also appeared on the covers of Milk Decoration Magazine and Sabato Magazine. As a professor at Parsons, she fosters sustainability, cultural awareness, and ethical responsibility, shaping the next generation of designers.

HIGHLIGHTS

The New York Times
“Woodworking Women”

The Financial Times
“Women woodworkers go against the grain”

Parsons School of Design
Appointed Professor

Boghossian Fondation
International Award Winner Design & Craft Prize 2024

Afrique Magazine
L’Art Nouveau Made in Congo

Cooper Hewitt Museum
Making Home—Smithsonian Design Triennial

Vitra Design Museum
Furniture Acquisition

AD100 Honorée
AD Middle East & Africa 2024

Architectural Digest US
One to Watch

Design Miami
2022 & 2023

“Hue Am I/Hue I Am”
Solo Exhibition 2023

Brooklyn Museum
Commission “Liso Stool I”

AD Magazine NYC Panel Talk
with Hannah Martin, Senior Design Editor AD Magazine

Milk Decoration
Cover & Interview

Collectible Art Fair
Architect-Designer Curator

RESIDENCIES

2026: Fondation Boghossian/Villa Empain, Brussels, Belgium
2025: INResidence, Turin, Italy

As seen in:

The Financial Times, The New York Times, AD Germany, AD Pro, Architectural Digest US, Artnet, Coveteur, DeZeen, FRAME Magazine, Galerie Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, Hypebeast, Interior Design Magazine, Marie Claire, Milk Decoration Magazine, Sabato Magazine, STIR Pad, STIR World, Surface Magazine, Vogue Poland, Afrique Magazine amongst others.