ROBERT SUMRELL
Set Designer Supreme Makes the Scene
Ever since he designed his first set for his high school’s production of Dracula in 1989, Robert Sumrell has been sinking his teeth into his craft all over the world.
Sumrell really fell headfirst into set design while doing favors for photographers during his time as a lead designer at an architecture studio. From there, his love for setting the stage, along with his natural knack for doing so, really took off. Within just a few years, Sumrell began frequently contributing to Italian Vogue and GQ. He has also created unique environments for a diverse array of clients, from Target to Katy Perry to Kate Spade stores to Beyoncé. Sumrell also frequently collaborates with internationally-recognized photographers like Jeff Burton, Jason Bell, and Roe Ethridge. Check out his work with Zendaya for Garage magazine, Harry Styles for GQ, and Lady Gaga for The New York Times Magazine. When it comes to setting the fashion stage, not many have an eye quite like Sumrell.
He also doesn’t stop at photo campaigns. Sumrell’s had a hand in designing sets for runway shows, commercials, and concerts as well. His video work for big hitters like Brioni, Hennessy, L’Orèal, and even Walmart show a keen eye for detail and comprehensive sense of scene that’s both visually appealing and commercially effective. Sumrell is also no stranger to design-related business ventures of his own.
With the help of a Kickstarter campaign last September, Sumrell, along with partner Sal Lombardo, created Monster Crackers – a collection of 15 Christmas ornaments that celebrates underrepresented groups not typically found in kids’ stories or on Christmas trees. Shunning the traditional Christmas character rules (Santa, snowmen, etc) these monsters depict strong women, independent kids, and queer & non-binary leaders.
Get familiar with Robert Sumrell’s body of work. It’s obviously just as important to appreciate what goes into setting up a scene as it is to appreciate the fashion itself. Sumrell’s keen eye is one that champions independence and freedom of expression, and that’s something we can all celebrate.
