A look back at the past week’s most exciting design discoveries, exhibitions, and interior highlights. This edition features a modernist-inspired pizzeria in LA, sculptural silverware, and furniture with a glossy, jelly-like finish.
Exhibitions
Vibrant Gloss in Marco Campardo’s Jello Series
Marco Campardo’s Jello collection, currently on display at Galerie Kreo in Paris (Feb 6–April 5), redefines lacquered furniture with a stunningly glossy aesthetic. The pieces, including stools, mirrors, and low tables, are designed like interlocking Tetris blocks and crafted using cardboard molds that leave behind striking horizontal patterns. Campardo, originally a graphic designer, brings bold simplicity to his 3D work.
Exploring Hans Hofmann’s Influence Through Contemporary Abstraction
Dimin Gallery in New York (until Feb 1) presents an exhibition anchored by two expressive Hans Hofmann paintings—”Yellow Volume” (1947) and an untitled work from 1960–1965. The display places his legacy within the broader New York School movement, juxtaposing his pieces with five contemporary abstract artists: Strauss Bourque-LaFrance, Justine Hill, Matt Kleberg, Erin O’Keefe, and Jason Stopa. Their works reject traditional artistic norms through geometric distortion, architectural playfulness, and dynamic color use.
Bennet Schlesinger’s Dreamlike Paper Lamps
LA-based artist Bennet Schlesinger brings charm and whimsy to lighting design with his sculptural paper lamp shades, now showcased at Galerie Timonier (until Jan 25). Inspired by early airships, the lamps include table, floor, and pendant versions, each supported by hand-sculpted clay bases. The exhibition, I Too Am, also introduces Schlesinger’s wooden furniture embedded with ceramic fragments, evoking a sense of organic integration over time.
James Cherry’s Ethereal Sculptures at TIWA Gallery
At TIWA Gallery in NYC, From Pollen by James Cherry unveils a series of luminous sculptures crafted in contrasting settings: a remote Californian Redwood forest and an urban studio. These pieces incorporate “makeshift fiberglass,” an innovative blend of recycled fabric and paper hardened with resin. Draped over branch or steel structures, the material diffuses light through its translucent form, creating an otherworldly glow.
Renee So’s Ceramic Homage to Perfume Bottles
On display at Lowry in Salford, UK (until Feb 16), Renee So’s ceramics reinterpret the classic forms of perfume and snuff bottles. The Essence series features oversized recreations of iconic fragrances like Yves Saint Laurent’s Opium and Burberry Brit, alongside historically inspired designs. The snuff bottle sculptures take on playful shapes—a nose, a poppy head, a Buddha’s hand—bringing a touch of humor to traditional vessels.
More on ArchUp:
Berenice Curt’s Sculptural Marble Masks
First introduced at Alcova’s Milan showcase, Berenice Curt’s Testa dei Marmi statues and Tavole di Marmi tables continue their European exhibition journey. The latest display in a former Parisian butcher’s shop highlights these offcut marble sculptures, which originated from a 17th-century villa renovation in Lucca. Mounted on steel stands or integrated into furniture, the pieces merge history with contemporary craftsmanship.
Interiors
A Timeless London Townhouse by Child Studio
Blending old-world elegance with modern design, this Belgravia townhouse by Child Studio is a study in rich textures and deep hues. Mahogany, Verde Guatemala marble, and paneled shutters create a warm, intimate atmosphere behind the classic Georgian facade. Standout features include a spiral staircase, a floor-to-ceiling library reminiscent of Karl Lagerfeld’s, and an emerald-green stone bathroom inspired by Charles Siclis’s 1930s Villa Serralves.
Wildcrust: An LA Pizzeria with Italian Modernist Flair
Jared Frank Studio reinvents the classic pizzeria with Wildcrust, a West Coast take on Milanese modernism. Ditching the usual subway tiles and stained glass, this LA eatery embraces claret-colored banquettes, pistachio-green cabinetry, and striking terrazzo floors. The lighting steals the show: pendant fixtures with stacked disks, X-profile sconces, and pyramid-shaped lights above the counter all contribute to a uniquely stylish dining experience.
Discoveries
Sculptural Silverware by Jessi Burch
Jewelry designer Jessi Burch applies her expertise to tableware, creating a striking cutlery set inspired by Josef Hoffmann’s Seven Ball Chair (1908). Each piece—a knife, fork, and spoon—features a row of delicate, spherical accents along the handle, blending historical design with modern craftsmanship.
Zeynep Boyan’s Lamps Inspired by Ancient Civilizations
Drawing from Turkey’s rich architectural history, Zeynep Boyan’s Monumental Collection explores texture and materiality. Created during a Luminaire Authentik residency, the lamps fuse classical fluting with sculptural, handcrafted knobs reminiscent of ancient artifacts. The result is a tactile, timeless lighting experience.
