This contemporary artwork features a simple wooden stool with a minimalist design, yet its visual appeal lies in the vibrant colors and patterns adorning the legs. The rectangular seat is made of natural wood, while the four legs are painted in a playful combination of blue, red, and yellow stripes, creating a striking contrast against the neutral background. The artistic style and technique employed showcase a playful and whimsical approach, inviting the viewer to reconsider the potential for ordinary objects to become visually captivating. This piece may reflect the artist's intention to celebrate the beauty inherent in everyday functional items. ...
With both Austrian and Japanese ancestry, Rio Kobayashi draws on his multicultural background to merge traditional craft techniques with contemporary design sensibilities. His practice spans furniture, lighting, and objects, combining fine craftsmanship with a distinctly playful spirit. Kobayashi’s approach is rooted in a rigorous understanding of materials, informed by years of hands-on making, yet remains open to experimentation and reinvention. Playfulness is central to his work. He reinterprets craft traditions with humor, bold color, and distinctive forms that balance striking presence with subtle detail. Collaborative by nature, Kobayashi often works alongside friends and skilled artisans, producing eclectic, tactile pieces that embody both technical mastery and creative openness. Multilingual in style and ever-evolving, his designs weave together cultural heritages into thoughtful compositions that challenge the boundaries between function and narrative. Through this synthesis, Kobayashi creates objects that are at once rooted in tradition and alive with fresh perspectives, inviting viewers and users to engage with craftsmanship as a space for dialogue, imagination, and cross-cultural exchange. ...
Kate MacGarry Gallery, established in 2002, is a contemporary art gallery located in East London at 27 Old Nichol Street, within a space designed by British architect Tony Fretton. Over the years, the gallery has expanded its representation to include 25 emerging and established artists, as well as two artist estates.
Many of the gallery's represented artists had their first commercial solo exhibitions at Kate MacGarry and have gone on to achieve international success. Their works have been showcased at leading institutions worldwide, including MoMA, Documenta, the Venice Biennale, Tate, MCA Chicago, Prada Foundation, The Walker Art Center, Barbican, New Museum, Palais de Tokyo, Kunstverein Hamburg, and Kettle's Yard, among others. ...
