Ron Arad Awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2026 King’s Birthday Honours
London
12 June 2026

Among the distinguished figures recognised in the 2026 King’s Birthday Honours List is Ron Arad, who was awarded a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to art and design. The honour recognises a career spanning more than four decades, during which Arad has continually challenged the boundaries between art, architecture, design and technology.

Born in Tel Aviv in 1951, Arad studied at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design in Jerusalem before moving to London to attend the Architectural Association, where he graduated in 1979. He first gained international recognition in the early 1980s with the iconic Rover Chair, created from reclaimed car-seat components and industrial steel. The work established his reputation for transforming everyday materials into radical sculptural forms and helped position him as one of the most influential figures in contemporary design.

Throughout his career, Arad has developed a multidisciplinary practice encompassing furniture, industrial design, public art, and architecture. Celebrated works such as the Bookworm bookshelf, the Tom Vac chair and the Design Museum Holon exemplify his distinctive visual language, characterised by fluid forms, technical innovation and a dialogue between function and sculpture.

Arad has also maintained a longstanding relationship with Opera Gallery through a series of exhibitions across our international network. Recent presentations include solo exhibitions in Geneva, New York, and Monaco, showcasing both iconic works and new experimental pieces in crystalline resin, while highlighting his ongoing exploration of materiality and form. In 2023, Arad's work was chosen to inaugurate Opera Gallery's flagship London space on New Bond Street, underscoring his importance within the gallery's programme.