Take 5: Nick Cave, a Cute as a Button Stool, Fresh Mats + More
1. Bjorn Button Stool by KAOI
Cute as a button, and stackable as well, the KAOI Bjorn Button Stool uses clever details like lashing on the seat to mimic thread, and contrasting colored seats that can be switched out for a different look. Satin-finished components combine to create a sweet little seat, the bright shades delightful alone or even more so in a spiraling stack.
2. Amalgams and Graphts by Nick Cave at Jack Shainman
A titanic figure towers over the spacious gallery, bronze blooms bursting out of the space where a head should be. Intricate cross-stitch work delicately shows aspects of the artist’s face, a first in his iconic career. Cleverly contrasting with the fractured portrait, cutouts of serving trays recall histories of slavery and servitude forced onto black bodies, with the added element of “serving,” a reference to ballroom culture. Nick Cave presents Amalgams and Graphts at Jack Shainman Gallery, inviting the viewer on a distinctly humbling and spiritual experience while also remaining close and intimate, layers of collective meaning forged in bronze.
Photo: Tine Bek
3. The Bad Idea Dress by Lærke Bagger
Lærke Bagger is a prolific Danish knitting designer, creating high fashion from material usually considered scraps. Her work is friendly and approachable, demystifying the somewhat intimidating process of garment design and offering a fun way to incorporate time-honored traditions in a modern way. A cheeky alien face or a boisterous heart splashed across a sweater is just the beginning for Bagger, her work transcending the yarn to a manifesto in making.
4. The Ring Bag by Hyer Goods
The Ring Bag is a convertible bag handcrafted in Italy from deadstock leather – ready to take on any type of outing, day or night. A removable strap and interlocking clips provide a sleek transition from handbag to shoulder bag, with the added benefit of elegantly reducing waste within a storied yet consumptive industry. Hyer Goods presents a fresh take on the luxury bag market, rescuing offcuts from luxury brands like Gucci, Hermes, and Valentino and crafting them into their own signature pieces. The Ring Bag also comes in a smaller size, The Piccola, perfect for formal wear or a quick trip with just the essentials.
5. Garden Mats by Lorien Stern
As false spring taunts us yet again, happier times are ahead with these placemats from illustrator and graphic designer Lorien Stern, working her bold designs into multiple mediums, including but not limited to phone cases and doors in her house. Garden Mats combine bright hues with bouncy, simplified signs of brighter times, featuring fresh citrus and blooming flowers. These happy mats are available individually and also as a pack of 6.
