Calico Wallpaper X Lee Broom, Overture
Lee Broom Debuts ‘Overture’: A Dramatic Wallpaper Collaboration with Calico Wallpaper at this years NYCx Design - read are editors picks here.
In a theatrical fusion of sculpture, illusion, and wallcovering, British designer Lee Broom unveils Overture, his first-ever wallpaper collection, in collaboration with acclaimed New York-based studio Calico Wallpaper.
Launching during NYCxDESIGN 2025, the series brings Broom’s lifelong fascination with drapery and visual storytelling to a new, immersive scale — turning walls into scenes that feel sculptural, cinematic, and surreal.
For Broom, the world of theatre is more than a passing influence — it’s a creative foundation.
“Growing up in theatre, I became acutely aware of the power of presentation,” Broom shares. “Set designers didn’t just decorate; they transported. That power to create illusions has always stayed with me.”
Drapery as Design Language
The Overture collection explores the illusion of flowing fabric rendered across flat planes. At once architectural and soft, the wallpaper gives the impression of draped curtains in motion — folding, twisting, and sweeping in a way that feels both classical and avant-garde. Each piece blurs the line between material and image, creating a 3D effect on a 2D surface.
The collaboration feels especially organic when paired with Calico Wallpaper’s experimental approach to wall treatments. Known for their painterly, immersive murals, Calico worked closely with Broom to achieve a tactile illusion of depth and softness, translating his vision into seven rich colourways: Applause, Audition, Auditorium, Chorus, Interval, Matinee, and Recital.
From Lighting to Wall Art
Overture continues a motif Broom first explored in his limited-edition lighting collection, Requiem, where sculpted drapery encased glowing forms in solid plaster. That sense of suspended motion — of fabric caught in time — is a signature that now finds a new canvas in interior architecture.
“Stepping into Lee’s world of illusion has been a joy,” says Calico Co-Founder and Creative Director Rachel Cope. “This collection invites the viewer to lean into imagination. It’s dramatic yet deeply livable — exactly what we believe great design should be.”
Custom Fit, Made Seamless
In addition to its artistic appeal, Overture has been designed with Calico’s new Panorama ordering system in mind. Digitally optimised for streamlined customisation, the collection can be tailored to a space in as little as four weeks, maintaining the brand’s bespoke standards while shortening lead times.
Where to See & Shop
Overture is available for order beginning May 15, 2025, via calicowallpaper.com.
Images: William Jess Laird