Ingrid Donat is a French artist and furniture maker. Though she only began exhibiting openly in 1998, today Donat stands as one of the most influential living artists in Decorative Arts. Her sculptured furniture pieces take a painterly approach to the weighty medium of bronze, imbuing it with “warmth and vitality” by drawing upon the scarification techniques and visual motifs from tribal societies. With her work, she seeks to distil something of the sophistication of Art Deco and the force of Tribal Art. Donat also draws upon a diverse range of decorating influences. The works of Egon Schiele, Gustav Klimt, and Armand-Albert Rateau have inspired the characters and intricate patterns that typify her art.