At Museum of Arts and Design: Amazing Wood Furniture

NEW YORK—The Museum of Arts and Design’s latest exhibition is all about wood. Exploring form and function, “Against the Grain: Wood in Contemporary Art, Craft and Design,” includes nearly 90 works. Many of the most compelling are functional objects—furniture pieces such as chests and chairs made by artists and designers from across the globe using innovative and traditional techniques.

Spread across two floors, “Against the Grain” is on view at MAD from March 19 to Sept. 15, 2013.

See more works from the exhibition here and here.

All photos © Arts Observer

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From left, Installation view of “5 Drawer George,” 2012 (English oak) by Gareth Neal of England and “Cinderella Table,” 2005 (CNC-cut birch plywood, 57 layers) by Jeroen Verhoeven of the Netherlands.

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Detail of “Cinderella Table.”

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From left (2), Installation view of “Thonet No. 18,” 2007 (Thonet chair, steam-bent white oak) by Matthias Pliessnig of the United States and “A Skeuomorphic Wing Chair,” 2012 (staved and carved pine with maple legs) by Martin Puryear of the United States.

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“Come Together,” 2002 (laminated jeutlong) by Ricky Swallow of Australia.

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Detail of “Come Together.”

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“Santo Antonio,” 2003 (chest of drawers, plywood) by French-born Courtney Smith of the United States.

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“Facecord,” 2012 (mixed hardwood) by Mark Moskovitz of the United States.

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“Grapes,” 2008 (wood Qing Dynasty (1644–1911) stools) by Ai Weiwei of China.

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“Sofa_XXXX,” 2010 (bamboo, stainless steel) by Yuya Ushida of Japan.

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“Thonet No. 18” by Matthias Pliessnig.

There are 3 comments

  1. Ari Z.

    The Cinderella Table is absolutely stunning. Not only do the lines and curvature of the table really push the envelope, but the natural beauty of the wood really shows through.

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