The use of natural elements in design has been used in everything from art to architecture. Smooth curves, floral and leaf details, and repeating patterns evokes a sense of movement and fluidity, a gentle calmness to our busy lives.
It is no wonder that bringing biomorphic design into our homes is a natural way to help us unwind and de-stress. It offers a softer and more organic feel to any space and provides a deep connection to nature. So it’s no surprise that east coast galleries are featuring artists that are influenced by the design of nature and incorporate its gentleness in their bodies of work.
For the 2023 Miami edition of Design Miami, Ateliers Courbet, a New York-based design gallery, recently presented Primal Nature, a group installation highlighting nine artists whose “biomorphic works explore how organic materials and shapes of the earth and body inform their respective design practices.”
One such artist in the show, Veronica Mar, a Spanish metal sculptor and lighting designer, presented a Ginkgo Chandelier and candle holders, part of her series designed from the Ginkgo Biloba tree, using real ginkgo leaves for the cast bronze molds.
The golden Ginkgo Chandelier was featured in a space with other creative works by artists that embrace biomorphic design. Artist, Pieter Maes creates elegant pieces such as the creamy lounger sofa, a hand-crafted beech wood and suede leather table and the “Triad Chair,” a three-leg chair, hand molded and cast in bronze with hand-rubbed patina detail.
Additionally, the room’s corner is accentuated by the Blackened Aluminum Gear Cartela light sculpture by Héctor Esrawe, a multidisciplinary artist from Mexico. His other works include, a Bronze Gear Cartela, as well as the stunning Shifting Parabola I light sculpture.
For more biomorphic design inspiration, the Les Ateliers Courbet gallery is noted for its “distinct curatorial focus dedicated to the ongoing craftsmanship mastery and design legacies carried-on by the contemporary artisans and centuries-old manufactures it represents.” Its exhibitions include many designers and artists that are influenced by nature and its timeless beauty.
The Ateliers Courbet gallery is based in New York and is located at 134 10TH AVE, NEW YORK, NY 10011. Visits are by appointment only. Inquires and more details are available at www.ateliercourbet.com; 212.226.7378; SHOP@ATELIERCOURBET.COM
By Susan O’Connor