In the space of Ralph Pucci in New York, on 20 May 2024 – during the design week – new works by Xavier Lust and Chris Lehrecke are placed in dialogue with the sculptures of August Lehrecke, paintings of Rebecca Moses, photographs by Antoine Bootz, and art by Spencer Fung. Welcome into the collectible design presented by the American brand in its Penthouse at 44 W 18th Street, a place with an industrial character that has been converted as a gallery and workshop. The radical vision of the designer Xavier Lust takes the form of rare pieces inspired by material: Alchemist Bar is like a gold monolith, though it is made in finely lacquered wood, accented with soft curves; Bijou is a console, partially polished, buffed and burnished, a work of art that can contain treasures; Blob 1, in stainless steel, rounded and polished, is a mirror in which the designer transforms the heavy material into a fluid presence, using the technique of (de)formation.
Beautiful Imperfections: A Celebration of Flawed Woods marks the debut of a collection of furnishings by Chris Lehrecke, a narration – through tables, screens and shelving – of the various species of trees in the Hudson Valley, the location of the designer’s studio. Wood varieties like catalpa, with which Lehrecke has created a circular table and a screen; Turkey Feather ash, utilized to make the Butterfly Cabinet; black walnut for the creation of a desk; Ambrosia maple, chosen by the designer to produce a shelving system.
“After 40 years of production of furniture with all kinds of wood – Lehrecke explains – I continue to find inspiration in the beauty and variations of this material. Although I appreciate flawless specimens of a particular type of wood, I do not shun trees with defects and character: as I grow older, I feel a closer bond with imperfections.”
