Inside San Francisco’s Hottest New Art Gallery!
Carpenters Workshop Gallery
Our interior designers recently enjoyed an inspiring private tour of the newly opened Carpenters Workshop Gallery in SOMA. It's located on the mezzanine of the Saint Joseph’s Arts Society – a new arts space housed in a 1913 Romanesque Revival building which was formerly Saint Joseph’s Church. This marks their second location in the States, joining New York, Paris, and London.
nacho carbonell: cocoon lamp series
We were fortunate to catch the tail end of Nacho Carbonell’s incredible Cocoon Lamp Exhibit – organic forms sculpted out of industrial materials including metal mesh, smashed concrete and steel. He uses his own proprietary plaster to give the forms an ethereal, feminine quality.
wendell castle: veiled in a dream
Wendell Castle is an American furniture designer who is often credited as the father of the "Art Furniture" movement. The current collection of his chairs fit perfectly in this category. Senior Designer Lynn is sitting in a limited edition bronze "Veiled in a Dream" chair which features a cantilevered seat.
"We are not interested in design"
Manifesto of Carpenters Workshop Gallery:
“Design per se is of no interest to us. Our energies are focused on a specific rare moment when design becomes art; the inception of a new movement stepping into the debate of form versus function.”
Above Left: Marble and glass cocktail table by Italian designer Vincenzo De Cotiis. De Cotiis designs and produces limited-edition pieces for architectural and interior projects, private homes and hotels across the globe. Highly collectable, the work is sold through his gallery in Milan and exhibited at leading global design fairs.
Above Right: Local San Francisco artist Johanna Grawunder creates statement acrylic LED light fixtures. She was the protégé of Ettore Sottsass, founder of the revolutionary 80’s design movement, Memphis Group. Her work can be found in the permanent collections of the SF MOMA, LACMA, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, and the Art Institute in Chicago.
About Carpenters Workshop Gallery
Carpenters Workshop Gallery is a contemporary art gallery that specializes in functional art, design and sculpture. The gallery was founded in 2006 by Julien Lombrail and Loic Le Gaillard, and it has since become one of the most influential and highly respected art galleries in the world. The concept behind the gallery is to showcase and promote contemporary artists and designers who are pushing the boundaries of traditional design and blurring the lines between art and functionality. The gallery’s focus is on one-of-a-kind, limited edition pieces that are both functional and aesthetically beautiful.
Carpenters Workshop Gallery has two locations, one in London and one in Paris. The London location is situated in Mayfair and the Paris location is located in the Marais district. Both locations are housed in historical buildings that have been renovated to showcase the gallery’s unique pieces. The London location was the first to open in 2006, and it quickly established itself as a destination for collectors and art enthusiasts. The gallery’s reputation grew, and it soon became known for showcasing some of the most innovative and groundbreaking pieces in contemporary art and design.
The Paris location opened in 2011, and it has since become an important hub for the art and design community in Europe. The gallery’s location in the Marais district, which is known for its vibrant art scene and historical architecture, has helped to solidify its reputation as a premier destination for collectors and enthusiasts.
Carpenters Workshop Gallery represents some of the most talented and innovative artists and designers working today, including Maarten Baas, Nacho Carbonell, and Studio Job. The gallery’s focus on limited edition pieces ensures that each piece is truly unique and highly coveted by collectors. In addition to showcasing its artists and designers in its galleries, Carpenters Workshop Gallery also participates in a number of international art fairs, including Design Miami, Frieze London, and TEFAF Maastricht.
You can visit Carpenters Workshop Gallery at 1401 Howard Street – By appointment only.