The leading authority for the Architecture & Design community
November 15, 2019
Text: Carlene Olsen
Inside the Immersive Showrooms at Salon Art + Design
Challenging the traditional labels that categorize art, Wexler Gallery exhibits work that coexists in the realms of design and contemporary fine art. Photography courtesy of Peter Baker.
The Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan is a chameleon of sorts—an expansive space that thrives, in part, due to its unfailing ability to adapt and surprise, which holds true for the 2019 Salon Art + Designproduced bySanford L. Smith + Associates. For the annual event, which opened last night and runs through Monday, the Armory morphs into an art-infused labyrinth featuring 56 immersive galleries with furnishings and installations from around the globe.
This year, there’s no shortage of colorful and quirky contemporary pieces that spotlight vibrant hues and, in may cases, a bit of shimmer. The exhibition’s eighth iteration draws heavily on bold pieces that border on the whimsical. Here’s a peak at some of the immersive showrooms, which serve as a reminder that design could, and should be, an invitation to play with form, color, and composition.
WonderGlass creates an ethereal atmosphere using lighting, color, and visual elements that demonstrate how the company melds traditional craft techniques with contemporary design. Photography courtesy of Peter Baker. Todd Merrill Studio is an exhibition-based program representing an international group of established and emerging contemporary artists, each sharing an underlying drive to push materials to their limits. Photography courtesy of Peter Baker.Chahan Minassian’s gallery, which is located in the heart of Paris’ prestigious ‘Carré Rive Gauche’ antiques area, presented mid-century furniture collections and works of ceramist artists, in addition to the Chahan Design’s line. Photography courtesy of Peter Baker. Since its inception in 2007, Friedman Benda has served as an international platform for designers at the forefront of their practice, as well as historically significant estates. The gallery highlights key narratives that intersect contemporary design, craft, architecture, cutting-edge technological research, and visual and conceptual art. Photography courtesy of Peter Baker. R & Company, founded as R 20th Century in 1997 by Zesty Meyers and Evan Snyderman, is a gallery with the goal of promoting a closer study, appreciation, and preservation of 20th and 21st century design. Photography courtesy of Peter Baker.
