Since Sight Unseen OFFSITE began three years ago, we’ve held the fair in three differentlocations, and people often ask whether that nomadic spirit translates in practice to something of a logistical nightmare. The answer, of course, is yes, and yet, each May, there’s a huge payoff: Our space has informed the character of each year’s show in an immeasurable way, and this year’s fair was no different. Held on the 15th floor of The Grace Building — an iconic, sloped, 1970s Midtown office tower that almost every New Yorker knows at least by sight — the show overlooked New York landmarks like the Empire State Building, the New York Public Library, and the grassy expanse of Bryant Park on one side; on the other, huge, slanted windows looked out onto a mishmash of architecturally styled skyscrapers. For every #suoffsite Instagram of a cluster of new lamps or a row of ceramics, there was one that looked outward as well, basking in the view.
Inside, more than 70 independent designers and brands were putting on their best show yet. The show was, as always, meticulously curated to ensure both the highest quality of designs and a variety of experiences. We had pop-ups where visitors could buy chocolate, cosmetics, fragrances, ceramics and smoking accessories; we hosted our second annual lunch cafe by Sunday Supper, this year in collaboration with Baked by Lexie Smith; we partnered with Homepolish to create and style a lounge using furniture by the show’s designers; and we had mega-Instagrammable moments in the form of Bower’s infinite hall of mirrors, kinder MODERN’s Design Chess matches, Land of Nod’s supersized play room, Eric Trine’s pink toilet, and Leong Leong’s foam-roller TOPO installation for Ford, which throughout the weekend became a jungle gym for our littlest Sight Unseen fans.
Thanks to everyone who attended, to the exhibitors who helped make this week’s show such a beautiful success, to our PR team at Camron for spreading the gospel, and to our partners — Sonos, West Elm, IKEA, Homepolish, Need Supply and title sponsor Ford, without whom none of this would have been possible in the first place! Here’s Part II of our tour; part I can be viewed here!
Top photo: Germans Ermics‘ gorgeous ombre mirror collection
OG OFFSITE alum Eric Trine showed what he called his “Pre Classical Post Nouveau Pop Perf Collection” — i.e. a series of perforated metal, powder-coated tables and accessories, all based on a classical arch motif. In the center of it all was a vintage pink American Standard toilet, which might have been the most photographed piece of design at the fair.
Colombian-American designer Dana Haim launched her collection of naturally dyed rugs and blankets, and definitely won the award for “best houseplants in a booth” this year.
Canadian lighting studio Shelter Bay showed their brand-new Union collection of mix and match pendant lights. Each light has a choice of cage and shade shapes, as well as four different finishes.
Erich Ginder’s laser-cut, interlocking shades help soften the glow of LEDs and look beautiful doing it.
JOIN, a loose West Coast design collective, asked its members to create a piece around the theme “Reflect.” The results were universally great, from Alissa MT and John Hogan’s iridescent glasses to Cofield’s two-toned bookends to Fruitsuper’s metallic sundial.
There was a serious beige thing going on at this year’s fair, and nowhere was that in fuller effect than Brendan Timmins’s booth, which showcased Enzo Mari–esque wooden chairs atop a beige pile carpet.
Argentinian studio RIES showed their Alpina collection as well as new series of hexagonal side talbes.
LA-based Heidi Korsavong and longtime friend of SU Benjamin Critton (he designed the SU book!) launched Norma, a furniture, objects, and other things studio with this pretty modular shelving unit.
We loved Sara Berks of MINNA’s cozy textile booth, featuring rugs, pillows, blankets, and framed miniature versions of all of those.
Known for her colorful fiber wall hangings, Julie Thévenot scaled down her palette this year to beautiful effect.
Vancouver-based Ben Barber debuted a credenza, daybed, and electric blue versions of his Bullet Bowls.
One of the most show-stopping pieces in the show was Suspended Confetti by CHIAOZZA x Studio Proba, which strung hundreds of colorful shapes and iridescent acrylic pieces from a mirrored ceiling. We heard it likened to a design-y bonfire or a supersized mobile, and we helped plot for its application both small (children’s mobiles) and large (exhibition in the Guggenheim rotunda anyone?)
A closer look.
Brooklyn studio Moonish launched a seires of gridded concrete and steel planters and tables as well as a wallpaper series whose pattern is derived from spray paint specks.
Philadelphia ceramics studio Felt+Fat showed new tableware including this cute confetti tray and thumbprint planters, all atop extruded ceramic furniture they made in their shop.
Brooklyn’s Slash Objects made beautiful, sophisticated pieces in marble, brass, and rubber.
Another arch-themed booth: Moscow’s Crosby Studios, whose tables and towers in pink and gold were a major hit.
Previously a womenswear and textiles brand, Tantuvi showed a new collection of geometric rugs and runners, as well as a textile ottoman.
New lighting brand McKenzie + Keim debuted a series of minimal fixtures that employ the diminutive size of LEDs as a design element.
Anthony Bianco of Bianco Light & Space premiered a series of vessels made from cast and blown glass, all in a cobalt and clear palette.
Print All Over Me, Various Projects, and Wallpaper Projects collaborated on a similar booth at Collective; for our fair, the modular block shapes were covered with grid, stripe, and dot patterns.
Hand-painted wall tiles and floor pillows were a highlight of AVO’s booth.
We loved these faceted bone inlay side tables Aelfie added to her growing body of work.
Bookscapes for display and hanging planters with a built-in catch tray were a highlight of Trey Jones Studio’s booth.
Blk Pine debuted their Contrast Grid Organizing system, composed of three main parts: vertical rods, horizontal bars and cross platforms, which can be assembled in any which way.
Holy iridescence: Simon Johns’s new credenza was an oft-photographed item, and played well with his new Scissor Shelves and Solis mirror.
Another bed, this one by Thing Industries, who debuted their Breakfast in Bed duvet set, Stick Shelves and Coming & Going mirror with a handy hook.
Fabric-covered mirror frames, optical illusion tables, and rainbow-inspired chairs made up Merve Kahraman’s pretty display.
Karen Aragon of Saint Karen showed new ceramics alongside furniture and mirrors by Robert Sukrachand.
Saint Karen and Robert Sukrachand.
Elyse Graham showed a new collection of vessels as well as the studio’s first foray into furniture design and a resin Drip Mirror in polished bronze.
Wintercheck Factory created a collection called Absolute Beige, using beige Corian and red industrial rubber.
Over the weekend, this was christened the “Fruit Leather” collection.
Michael Felix, a third generation upholsterer, continues to be pretty much the only independent designer making actually cool upholstered furniture. We’re thinking of buying the cozy blue chair on the right, and we wouldn’t mind having some of his freeform snake pillows around either.
Other Kingdom — a trio of RCA grads who hail from New York, Berlin, and India — launched their debut collection of pillows, trays, and gridded marble–topped tables.
Studio Banan showed avant-garde acrylic aquariums (though were sadly thwarted by the building’s no-fish-allowed rule!)
Elise McMahon of LikeMindedObjects showed her debut collection, comprising composite Corian tabletops, powder-coated bent-aluminum tubes with slung fabric lounge chairs, bent metal with rubber perforated lighting, and fringe denim rugs.
Liz Collins Studio debuted these Potholder rugs, woven from reams of jersey material. Yet another kids fantasy wonderland!
Glancing out the window on this cold, grey, rainy day in New York City, it's hard to believe that just last week we were frolicking in the sunshine in Miami, immersing ourselves in art and design and running into friends like Su Wu and Brent Dzekciorius on the street while flitting between parties and champagne brunches. While the primary purpose of our time there was to launch a new collaboration with Print All Over Me for the shop at the Standard (read all about that here), we managed to squeeze a million other activities into our four-day trip, from a visit to the impeccably curated Untitled art fair to a bizarre slide lecture and fashion show by Jonah Freeman and Justin Lowe to a 3AM performance by rapper Rae Sremmurd at a local nightclub that left our ears ringing for three days straight. While you won't find that particular dalliance documented here, we did take plenty of photographs of art and design; some of our favorites are posted after the jump.
The 2016 Salone del Mobile and Fuorisalone — aka the Milan furniture fair — closes today, and we were there on the ground, running around like crazy people trying to absorb a year's worth of new furniture in less than a week's time. According to our iPhones, we walked about 7.5 miles a day in our quest to scout great design. Here's the first of three posts chronicling what we found.
The 2016 edition of Collective Design ends tomorrow, and though our time there has been mostly spent chatting with visitors, press, and neighbors in our own, relatively massive booth, we were sure to put on our press hats to suss out what other gems were on view. The caliber of the fair is truly excellent this year, from the wire and wood Nendo cabinets that line the entryway to the Lindsey Adelman light explosion way at the other end. Here are 10 of our favorite, must-see moments.
