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Sculptor Misha Kahn Ties Together His Experimentations in Staged

05.02.23 | By
Sculptor Misha Kahn Ties Together His Experimentations in Staged

Sculptor Misha Kahn is endlessly inventive, currently appearing in the television show, “The Exhibit: Finding the Next Great Artist” by the Smithsonian and MTV, while simultaneously exhibiting a new show – Staged – at Friedman Benda Los Angeles. Running through June 2nd, the show is set in the gallery’s new 2,800+ sq. ft home, adding an interesting domestic dynamic to the pieces on display. Themes of personal acceptance and loving your own chaos run throughout, including pieces such as the Ammonoid Delta chair, Pig of the Earth sofa, and Hold the Line lamp.

Kahn explained: “Friedman Benda’s new LA space provided the opportunity to show in a more domestic space, loosely suggesting how these disparate suspects might temporarily live together before something goes awry. The works’ internal tensions come to light on their surfaces.”

colorful modern abstract sculpture

And the Phone Call Dragged On and On

“These past few years have been about accepting the way I work, learning to love my chaos rather than trying to escape it… and instead welcoming you into my vortex,” shared Kahn. “Some pieces in the show are such an invitation; however, by limiting the result to a particular material, such as in the handwoven mohair of Stephens Tapestry, the resulting piece Swatching Space Time creates a complete bacchanal of media and imaginary digital weaving. Bits of string and crumpled paper mix with VR brushstrokes. A scanned piece of gum clings to a loose thread. This swatch – an expansive carpet by human standards – is but a tiny sample of infinite possibility.”

silver abstract side table

Aura Stool

“After a decade with Friedman Benda, and a few previous outings in LA (at Dries van Noten’s The Little House in 2021 and M+B in 2019), I’ve murdered quite a few things. It felt like it was now time to take a string and carefully tie together all these creative explorations I’d left behind with the goal of hopefully arriving at some kind of closure – which is taking place, a little ‘too conveniently,’ in a house.”

rectangular wall mirror with layered color frame

Azimuth Mirror

red and pink amalgamous chair

Ammonoid Delta

table resembling an inflated mylar balloon

Cloud Flavor

colorful figure-like sculpture with natural materials

Dusk’s Raveled Whisps

colorful, abstract side table

Extremophile Folly

dark blue and purple symmetrical wall art

Filler Queen

colorful, amalgamas sofa

Bois Brule

colorful modern abstract sculpture

Hold the Line

gold chalice studded with colorful gems

Larvae Chalice

translucent light blue and red wall art resembling a face

Limax Cinereoniger’s House Not Yours

colorful, abstract side table

Hellenistic Vector

silver chair with bone-like back

Miss Fishy

pastel purple, pink, and blue abstract sculpture

Oneiromantic Tendencies

dark metallic abstract sculptural lamp

Shell Lamp

dark berry colored symmetrical wall art

Raspberry

tapestry that appears covered in different colors of paint

Swatching Space Time

dark, modern, abstract watch

Time Tracers

To learn more about Misha Kahn’s Staged, visit friedmanbenda.com.

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she's likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.