Swedish flooring brand Kasthall has launched a new street art-inspired rug design – the result of a recent collaboration with graffiti artist Ollio, aka Jonathan Josefsson.

Featuring neon colors and dripping paint patterns, Ollio’s work for Kasthall translates graffiti art from the streets, into tufted rugs.

The rugs are tufted using a pneumatic gun. A fine mesh is stretched and the wool yarn is inserted from the rear, with the gun cutting the thread as necessary. Working in a large-scale format, Josefsson prefers to hang his rugs on the wall like works of art.

Comparing tufting to spraying cans of paint Josefsson says, "The technique is basically the same. It's a rapid art form, which requires concentration and determination. You must always be aware of which way you are headed".

For more information visit www.kasthall.com

About the designer: Jonathan Josefsson was born in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1978. As a teenager, he was a prolific graffiti artist, which lead him to explore other art forms and eventually enrolling in a master programme in textile art at the University of Gothenburg's School of Design and Crafts (HDK). It was during this time that he became involved with tufting. His final exam exhibition of tufted rugs at the Röhsska Museum of Fashion, Design and Decorative Arts in Gothenburg was followed by invitations from galleries and art centres, as well as commissions for street art and decoration of public spaces. Today, Ollio is famous for his picturesque textile art and expressive rugs in random organic shapes.

About the Manufacturer: Over the years, Kasthall has grown to become one of the leading international designers and manufacturers of rugs. The brand runs its own production, giving the brand control over its entire manufacturing process. Kasthall takes an active responsibility for the environment and all of its products are environmentally-certified according to the ISO 14001 standard.