I was first introduced to the magnificent Carpenters Workshop Gallery through director Cedric Morisset at The Salon Art + Design Show in New York. Amongst all of the incredible furniture and works of art, there was one magnificent booth that caught my eye in particular—I knew it had to be a French dealer and well, it was. The good news Morisset explained, is that not only did they have a showroom in Paris and London, but they had also just opened one in New York.
The showroom is situated in the former Takashimaya space on Fifth Avenue in Midtown (across from Visual Therapy.) Carpenters Gallery New York is a clean white box in the sky and on the entry level floor, it features the latest exhibition of one artist’s work of rare avant-garde furniture. The dramatic second floor gallery, that Morisset call “homey”, felt right at home to me, with a perfectly curated collection from 18 artists who’s work they currently represent.
The most exciting thing about the Carpenters Workshop Gallery is that the artists they feature are clearly artists first and furniture designers second. Would I design an entire home with their pieces? No, but I would certainly design a room around a single piece from this wildly unique hidden treasure in New York.
Scroll through for a few shots from the current environment and works at the gallery. Be sure to check it out at 693 5th Avenue (at 54th Street) if you find yourself uptown.
Sebastian Brajkovic’s “conversation piece” is part of a series of antique pieces of furniture reinterpreted for today. I see them as practical sculpture with incredible hand embroidery in modern designs. Brajkovic explains, “When I like the old, I show the new in the old. When I am drawn to function I consider the deconstruction of this function, when I convey movement, it best explains itself in stillness. Juxtapositions reveal each other’s appearance.”
A mystical dining table by Ingrid Donat called “Table Tribal” in walnut with bronze inlay. It’s a limited edition of 8 with incredible detail.
Rock sconces by Studio Job—the design team created these sconces from polished and patinated bronze for a limited collection of 50.
This large cocktail table in bronze is by the French artist Ingrid Donat. She creates sculpted furniture, most often in bronze. Taking a painterly approach to this weighty medium, Donat draws on diverse decorative influences—Art Deco, tribal tattooing, and the work of Gustav Klimt.
Morisset explained that the Smoke Pleyel Piano by Maarten Baas is a fully functional Steinway that has been torched and treated with epoxy to allow for a smooth touch and total functionality.
Mark Newson’s Event Horizon Table in aluminum.
This unique and sculptural light by Studio Job in polished and patinated bronze, with hand blown glass and red light fittings. The team explains, “craftsmanship is more important than quantity and extreme designs take precedence over middle-of-the-road options.”