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Colorama at Superhouse Is an Explosion of Energy

11.19.24 | By
Colorama at Superhouse Is an Explosion of Energy

Desigers Wendy Maruyama and Tom Loeser exhibit new work for the first time together in New York City in over 30 years in Colorama at Superhouse. This whimsical space is freeing, healing, and shockingly bright. Good designers know that child-like wonder, not the stuffy adult kind, is what touches our souls. Tapping in to that unrestrained joy of creation is somewhat harder as we age, a muscle that must actively be exercised lest it be lost to atrophy.

Wooden bench with black and burgundy cushions, a round ottoman with colorful top, and two abstract paintings on a white wall.

but but but felt stool and Switchback seating by Tom Loeser \\\ Rx and With Salt or Without wall art by Wendy Maruyama

Maruyama and Loeser understand this fully, releasing themselves from the rigors of traditional furniture craft with organic details and a sense of fantastical quickness, at odds with the slower, hand-hewn nature of the collection. Each facet, fillet, and surface has been considered, employing materials in unique combinations that we’ve never seen before. The distinctive edges of the work shown above is adorned in black and white stripes, making use of planes usually hidden or unconsidered. This choice in itself is charming, allowing for a level of detail and consideration quite rare in furniture design.

Two abstract geometric artworks hang above two leather chairs with wooden frames. The left artwork has a red frame, and the right one has a yellow frame.

Switchback seating by Tom Loeser \\\ Rx and With Salt or Without wall art by Wendy Maruyama

A wooden bench with two cushioned seats sits beneath two colorful abstract paintings on a wall.

Switchback seating by Tom Loeser \\\ Rx and With Salt or Without wall art by Wendy Maruyama

A wooden chair with a leather seat, a colorful framed abstract artwork on the wall, and a round table with a spiral pattern on a wooden floor.

Switchback seating and Chairiot table by Tom Loeser \\\ With Salt or Without wall art by Wendy Maruyama

Each piece builds off of each other, the overall effect quite impressive. The rendered details, all of which clearly done by hand, add a personal touch to the work. This grounds us in the incredible amount of knowledge these two designers have brought to the table, striving upstream against the flow of conventional minimalist design. It is quite difficult to maintain this sense of curiosity that Maruyama and Loeser have managed to foster, especially in times of rapid change. They stand the test of time, again showing exactly how important human touch is, celebrating those that came before us.

Colorful circular ottoman next to a wooden bench with a burgundy cushioned backrest. Abstract art hangs on a white wall.

but but but felt stool and Switchback seating by Tom Loeser \\\ Rx wall art by Wendy Maruyama

A colorful circular ottoman from the Colorama collection sits on a platform in a minimalist room at Superhouse, with a wooden floor and a wall display featuring geometric art pieces.

but but but felt stool by Tom Loeser \\\ Cadence wall art by Wendy Maruyama

The concentric layers of felt shown above are such a beautiful detail, simply allowing the unfinished side of the material to be shown on the top. This, in juxtaposition to the relatively industrial hardware that keeps the stool together, is quite nice. Below, hand-carved undulations on the table are adorned with a dusty blue and brilliant red, the contrast between the tones helping the red achieve an incredible intensity.

On a wooden table sits a sculpture adorned with a colorful checkered pattern, part of the Colorama at Superhouse exhibit. Nearby, a geometric artwork hangs gracefully on the wall, creating an intriguing dialogue between shapes and hues.

Chairiot table by Tom Loeser \\\ Nik Nak wall art by Wendy Maruyama

Colorama at Superhouse features a vibrant abstract sculpture with three curved walls in yellow, green, and blue standing on a red and white concentric circle floor, all set atop a wooden surface.

Chairiot table by Tom Loeser

Colorama at Superhouse presents vibrant wooden blocks arranged in a captivating curve, showcasing stripes of blue, orange, yellow, and green.

Chairiot table by Tom Loeser

A colorful, rectangular wooden box with a pixelated design stands on a wooden floor.

Chesterbench by Tom Loeser

A colorful, geometric-patterned wooden bench with a patchwork design stands on a light wood floor against a plain wall.

Chesterbench by Tom Loeser

Close-up of overlapping colored panels in red, blue, and green with visible screw details and wood edges.

Chesterbench by Tom Loeser

Wooden box interior with multicolored vertical stripes on the sides and a wooden base. The name "Tom Loeser 2024" is painted on one of the stripes.

Chesterbench by Tom Loeser

Four wooden chairs with dark, stitched leather seats and backs are placed in a staggered arrangement. The chairs have decorative stitching and a minimalist design.

Switchback seating by Tom Loeser

Wooden furniture with detailed inlays and patterned upholstery on a hardwood floor.

Switchback seating by Tom Loeser

Superhouse is a New York City-based art and furniture gallery, specializing in modern and historical pieces alike. Celebrating the unconventional, founder and director Stephen Markos is especially drawn to sculpture, 1980s art furniture, and contemporary craft. He attributes his upbringing in New England, surrounded by all manners of vintage and folk works, to his lifelong passion for art and design.

A vintage wooden double chair with a blue and a red cushioned seat, placed on a wooden floor against a plain white wall.

Switchback seating by Tom Loeser

In Colorama at Superhouse, a brightly lit room showcases colorful, geometric furniture with mismatched patterns on a wooden floor. A small sculpture graces the back wall, completing the eclectic scene.

Wendy Maruyama is a prolific furniture designer, working and teaching for over 40 years in a frequently unforgiving industry. Early in her career, she adopted folk techniques and feminist ideologies in inventive ways, touching viewers across the globe with her specific blend of sensitivity and color. In recent decades, she has been delving into her Japanese-American heritage, and the sometimes fraught history that comes along with that identity.  “The social-practice component of her artwork is successful in combining art, advocacy, education, and community. Her work manages to pull you in with stirring visuals and keep you engaged with multiple layers of content,” explains Elizabeth Kozlowski, independent curator and editor of Surface Design.

A person with gray hair and glasses stands in an art studio, wearing a patterned top. Various art supplies and a square vase with flowers are on the table.

Wendy Maruyama

Deeply guided by the history of craft and design, Tom Loeser is a furniture designer drawn to the dysfunctional just as much as the functional. Entrenched in the history and technique of craft furniture, his work embodies a highly considered, yet fantastical approach. In 2010, he collaborated with his wife, Bird Ross, on the reception desk at the Madison Children’s museum, which is unconventional, intensely interactive, and has a wry sense of wit. Usually involving carving and painting, his pieces make one think of another timeline, transporting and otherworldly objects born out of careful respect and attention.

A man in a blue shirt sits on a stool in a woodshop, surrounded by wooden planks and boards.

Tom Loeser

Colorama is open until January 11, 2025 at Superhouse, 120 Walker Street, 6R, New York, New York. For more information, visit superhouse.us.

Photography by Matthew Gordon Studio

Growing up in NYC has given Aria a unique perspective into art + design, constantly striving for new projects to get immersed in. An avid baker, crocheter, and pasta maker, handwork and personal touch is central to what she loves about the built environment. Outside of the city, she enjoys hiking, biking, and learning about space.