Tag: furniture

Raphael Navot at Friedman Benda Gallery

Paris-based designer Raphael Navot’s furniture, now on view at Friedman Benda Gallery, begs to be touched. The gallery explains that the soft, curving forms of this couch, titled ‘Entwined,’ demonstrate the concept of comfort as something experienced both mentally and physically.  Though velvet upholstery resembles the surface of rock, and Navot intends to harken back to what the gallery calls the first furniture, ‘a pile of rounded rocks,’ the sheer tactility of the sofa’s sweeping curves makes softness irrelevant.  (On view in Chelsea through Dec 10th).

Raphael Navot, Entwined, velvet, bronze, fiberglass, 3D-milled foam, 36.75 x 56.25 inches, 2022.

Mattias Sellden at Friedman Benda Gallery

Swedish designer Mattias Sellden’s eureka moment, when he settled on his signature use of minimally processed planks of wood to create dynamic furniture items, came from a simple aversion to altering a piece of wood he admired.  Calling the creations now on view at Friedman Benda his ‘little wooden friends,’ Sellden allows his audience to find use-value in the constructions or simply enjoy them as they are.  (On view through August 12th).

Mattias Sellden, Sunset Giraffe, curly birch, birch, varnish, pigment, 50.5 x 23.5 x 17.75 inches, 2021.

Ryan Preciado at Canada Gallery

Inspired by the Pope’s mitre, Chumash tradition, California car culture and much more, young west coast designer Ryan Preciado presents furniture at Canada Gallery that conveys comfort, pleasure and sturdiness.  Like Matt Conners’ abstract paintings in the adjoining gallery, color and structure dominate our sensory experience.  Practical and welcoming, Preciado’s approach to design was impacted by watching his sister squirm to get comfortable on the family couch.  (On view in Tribeca through March 5th).

Ryan Preciado, Pope Cabinet, plywood, MDF, urethane enamel, 70 x 48 x 20 inches, 2021.

Gaetano Pesce in ‘Ghost Dog’ at Salon94 Design

This huge clown by Italian designer Gaetano Pesce dominates Salon94’s lively new venture, Salon94 Design, promising good things to come. (On the Lower East Side through April 15th).

Installation view of ‘Ghost Dog’ at Salon94Design, featuring Gaetano Pesce’s, Tomando dal Circo Cabinet, resin, wood, steel, 245 x 136 x 100cm, 2016.

Zaha Hadid at Leila Heller Gallery

While architect Zaha Hadid’s firm worked on the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, Hadid created a collection of related furnishings, including this stunningly sleek desk, currently on view with a selection of Hadid’s other design projects at Chelsea’s Leila Heller Gallery. How could your career fail to take flight, seated behind this desk? (On view through January 21st).

Zaha Hadid, Seoul Desk, fiberglass with high gloss lacquer paint finish, 49.2 x 166.14 x 28.35 inches, 2008.
Zaha Hadid, Seoul Desk, fiberglass with high gloss lacquer paint finish, 49.2 x 166.14 x 28.35 inches, 2008.