8 New Works by Luam Melake are on Display in New York
Luam Melake’s formal studies were in architecture and art history. But another passion is learning about the mind. It started with the AP psychology class she took when she was 15. Now 36, the amalgam of her training, interests, and multilayered Black-American, Eritrean, and Ethiopian background has led her to create stunning functional furniture that supports social and emotional engagement. A selection is on view this winter at R & Company in New York in “Furnishing Feelings,” Melake’s first solo exhibition with the gallery.
Most pieces are for sitting, with names like Listening Chair and Supportive Chair, both designed to encourage those functions, but there’s also the Better Together Table. “This work is about the alienation brought on by the digital era,” Melake says. “Social media brings people together via a brief exchange of written language, but actual socializing is a physical experience. Trying to replace that is having repercussions on our social fabric and mental health. It’s time to come back to our bodies.”
All are shaped from lightweight upholstery foam, so users can easily move them as needed, that is coated in layers of shiny, stabilizing urethane; materials research is another focus of Melake’s practice. In fact, she weaves other industrial elements into large-scale tapestries, too. She’s currently working on her biggest yet—12 feet high—for the lobby of the new AC Hotel San Rafael in California.
read more
DesignWire
Objective Gallery Hosts a Solo Exhibition of Vincent Pocsik’s Work
“Cabinet Is Me” is Vincent Pocsik’s solo exhibition of 14 new pieces at Objective Gallery in New York through December 16.
DesignWire
10 Questions With… Lani Adeoye on the Multifaceted Nature of African Design
Learn more about Nigerian-Canadian designer, Lani Adeoye, who works to deconstruct monolithic conceptions about African design.
DesignWire
Lee Mindel’s New Gallery in New York Showcases Rare Modernist Furnishings
Lee Mindel’s “Garden of Celestial Delights” spotlights his collection of rarely-seen modernist furnishings.
recent stories
DesignWire
Top Product Picks from the 2024 Kitchen & Bath Industry Show
Check out the sizzling, must-see products that have graced the show floor of NKBA’s KBIS 2024, from Barbie pink faucets to sleek gas cooktop ranges.
DesignWire
10 Questions With… Architect and Designer, Victoria Yakusha
Ukrainian architect, designer and artist Victoria Yakusha sheds light on her overall practice and the ongoing challenge of the war in Ukraine.
DesignWire
Giants and Rising Talent Attendees Explore How Science Shapes Design
What type of environment optimizes cognitive function? A neuroscientist explores this question and more during Interior Design’s Giants and Rising Talent event.