Lucas Simões debuts his first furniture collection, titled Colendra, with a sculptural furniture collection rooted in Brazilian modernism that translates iconic silhouettes into bold, architectonic forms. On display at Christie’s Los Angeles as part of the Lightness & Tension exhibition, the range features a dining table, bench, chaise lounge, and coffee tables with a distinct presence. Each design bridges modernist restraint with a sense of monumentality.
The pieces pair angular steel frames with Portuguese Brazilian quartzite tops, polished concrete, and tempered glass. The interplay of solidity and fluid curves emphasizes balance and contrast while nodding to the lineage of Joaquim Tenreiro’s mid-century Brazilian design. Through the use of raw materials and wavy profiles, Simões integrates sculptural expression with functional form, offering a contemporary perspective on design traditions that is both measured and striking.
Modernist Artful Furniture
Lucas Simões Shows the New Colendra Furniture Collection
Trend Themes
1. Sculptural Furniture Design - Furniture pieces that emphasize sculptural aesthetics offer a fresh fusion of art and utility, inviting innovative methods of crafting everyday items into visually captivating forms.
2. Mixed-material Innovation - The combination of materials like steel, quartzite, concrete, and glass exemplifies a trend towards experimenting with mixed materials to create distinctive, durable, and elegantly sophisticated furniture designs.
3. Modernism Revival - The resurgence of mid-century Brazilian modernistic design elements allows designers to reinterpret classic aesthetics with contemporary flair, pushing forward the movement of modernism revival in furniture.
Industry Implications
1. Luxury Furniture - Incorporating high-end materials like polished concrete and quartzite positions the luxury furniture industry to cater to consumers seeking refined, statement pieces that resonate with artistic value.
2. Interior Design - With a focus on bold, architectonic forms, the interior design industry can leverage these pieces to redefine spaces with furniture that acts as both functional and artistic centerpieces.
3. Art Galleries - As sculptural furniture gains traction, art galleries have the opportunity to showcase functional art pieces, appealing to collectors and design enthusiasts who appreciate furniture as an extension of artistic expression.