Friedman Benda gallery presents Formation, the first solo exhibition in the United States by the Italian design studio Formafantasma. Open to the public from 6 June to 1 August 2025, the exhibition explores the relationship between furniture, the domestic sphere, and the concept of the archetype in design.
The collection, crafted in cherry wood, begins with the fundamental unit of cabinetmaking: the plank. From this essential component, Formafantasma constructs pieces that reflect on the evolution of domestic objects over time, incorporating influences from the Shaker movement, Frank Lloyd Wright, and George Nakashima. The interplay between the warmth of the wood and brushed aluminium evokes a convergence of craftsmanship and technology.
The lighting elements, designed with rectangular LED panels, recall the proportions of contemporary electronic devices. At the same time, the inclusion of textiles introduces references to domestic traditions historically associated with women’s labour, highlighting the cultural and symbolic dimensions of the home environment.
With a focus on reflection rather than spectacle, Formation proposes a restrained vision of design. According to Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin, the studio’s founders, the aim is neither to imitate nor to reject history, but to expand upon it. The exhibition offers an inquiry into how objects transform in response to technological and cultural shifts.
Founded in 2009 and based in Milan and Rotterdam, Formafantasma approaches its practice from a research-led perspective. Its projects are included in the permanent collections of institutions such as the MoMA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. In addition to their studio work, Trimarchi and Farresin lead the Geo–Design department at Design Academy Eindhoven.
The exhibition at Friedman Benda aligns with the gallery’s curatorial direction, which focuses on fostering critical dialogues across contemporary design, applied arts, and technology. The collaboration with Formafantasma underscores its commitment to broadening the global design narrative.
