Delicate bamboo lighting and a collaboration between design studios Willon Perron and USM have been among the many collectible design tasks proven at this 12 months’s Los Angeles artwork week.
Primarily based round outstanding artwork festivals Frieze and Felix, LA artwork week is a city-wide activation, and although advantageous artwork is the focus, a number of design galleries and studios additionally showcase work.
The week could be irritating, with the huge geographic unfold between the totally different occasions and the dearth of transportation choices within the metropolis. The result’s a necessity to choose and select between the assorted openings and occasions.
Regardless, the consensus amongst many is that the design scene in Los Angeles has been steadily rising, a development evidenced by the current announcement of an outpost for collectible design truthful Design Miami kicking off within the metropolis in Might 2024.
Lots of the galleries have had a powerful presence in LA for years, similar to Carpenters Workshop Gallery and Future Good, each of which even have outposts in New York and Europe.
Nonetheless, there have been a number of relative newcomers to the town who confirmed up, and a few spectacular single-label collections, together with the debut of designer Brett Robinson.
Learn on for 9 of this 12 months’s standouts.
Marta
At Marta gallery in East LA, California-based designer Bennet Schlesinger offered In Tune With Itself, an exhibition of sunshine fixtures and furnishings. The sunshine fixtures have been delicate, with shades fabricated from bamboo and paper and ceramic bases.
Schlesinger additionally labored with designer Emily Daybreak Lengthy to create a collection of stackable beanbag stools to enhance the lights. He additionally created a collection of picket tables lined with tiles, which he handpainted to reference his work in fabric-and-fibreglass surfboard floor design.
BG Robinson Studio
LA-based designer Robinson opened his studio to showcase his debut assortment, Halycon. The collection of chairs and tables options glossy steel bases and toned-down materials.
The gathering additionally included a chrome-backed mirror, positioned up in opposition to the stark industrial partitions of the designer’s studio. In accordance with the studio, the exhibition was meant to indicate the “steadiness between industrial power and sensual refinement”.
Southern Guild
South African design and artwork gallery Southern Guild placed on an expansive present of works from Africa to rejoice the opening of its Los Angeles location, its first in america.
The present revolved round two exhibitions: one, a gaggle present known as Mom Tongues that featured the sculptural work of ceramicist Andile Dyalvane and the black, carved desk and stone stools of Chuma Maweni. The opposite was a solo present by artist Zizipho Poswa that includes huge sculptures based mostly on hair adornments.
The Future Good
At its mansion within the Hollywood Hills, The Future Good showcased works by a spread of designers, together with New York-based Minjae Kim and archival works from sculptor Isamu Noguchi and American artist JB Blunk.
Referred to as Internal Area, the exhibition was unfold all through the huge home and interspersed with items from the gallery’s collections. Additionally included within the group present have been artists Alana Burns and Ian Collings.
Sized Selects
LA-based design studio Sized occupied the outdated headquarters of American enterprise mogul Howard Hughs. The exhibition included tables designed collaboratively by Canadian designer Willo Perron and New York industrial design studio USM.
Beneath the moniker of the gallery’s travelling showcase, Sized Selects, the furnishings items have been organized alongside traditional automobiles, all black, together with the uncommon Vector sportscar. Chrome functioned because the unifying issue between the furnishings and the vehicles.
Discover out extra about Sized Selects ›
Rhett Baruch Gallery
LA-based gallerist Rhett Baruch confirmed work inside a French Gothic revival mansion within the metropolis’s Los Feliz neighbourhood. Referred to as Dream Fountain, the exhibition included sculptures by Shay Bredimus and furnishings design by Jason Koharik.
The furnishings included lighting and chairs knowledgeable by artwork nouveau, similar to round seats and a wall sconce with a corona of steel prongs.
Carpenters Workshop Gallery
The gallery showcased the work of Italian designer Vincenzo De Cotiis in its Hollywood Gallery. Referred to as Crossing Over, the solo exhibition noticed De Cotiis’ designs unfold out over a big and minimalist house.
The dimensions of the items ranged from small stools and chairs to a large-scale set up with two huge stone cupboards related by a raised plinth in the course of the exhibition.
Gallery Fumi
London-based galley Fumi held its first main present in america. The exhibition featured the cardboard furnishings of British designer Max Lamb, in addition to plywood stools by Spanish artist Aparicio.
Dozens of different American and European designers have been on present on the extremely various exhibition.
Discover out extra about Gallery Fumi’s LA exhibition ›
Friedman Benda
Set in one other gallery-occupied mansion, this exhibition showcased the work of Lithuanian designer Barbora Žilinskaitė. Referred to as Chairs Don’t Cry, it featured a vibrant collection of Žilinskaitė’s work.
The furnishings items have been sculptural, typically together with shapes knowledgeable by physique elements. They have been crafted with the designer’s signature medium – a plaster produced from reclaimed sawdust.
