For its inaugural exhibition at Collective Design Fair, Friedman Benda is pleased to present a selection of works by three standouts in the world of design – Wendell Castle, Misha Kahn and Adam Silverman. Spanning three generations, Friedman Benda’s booth will capture the spirited side of American design by celebrating materiality, texture, and the freedom to develop one’s own shapes and expression.

This marks the first collaboration between Los Angeles based artist Adam Silverman and Friedman Benda. With a focus on ceramics, Silverman’s rigorous approach to his process can be seen in the form, color, and texture of his vessels. Traditional pottery techniques are paired with experimental gritty and lush glazes. Silverman will be present at Friedman Benda’s booth to sign GRAFTED: Plants by Kohei Oda | Pots by Adam Silverman with an essay by Glenn Adamson, Director of the Museum of Arts and Design, on Friday, May 15 from 5 to 7pm.

American design icon Wendell Castle, now in his 6th decade of working, will present a series of colorful fiberglass works, some of which have not been shown in more than 6 years. Animated voluminous forms with automotive spray paint finishes demonstrate Castle’s groundbreaking unification of sculpture and furniture. A long record of acclaim, scholarship, and steady acquisition by public institutions gives Wendell Castle’s work indelible historic importance. Concurrently on view at Friedman Benda’s Chelsea gallery through May 31, is Castle’s second solo exhibition of new work, Gathering Momentum. The newly published catalogue raisonné, “Wendell Castle: 1958-2012,” a comprehensive documentation of his epic career, will be available at the booth and at the gallery.

Misha Kahn’s wildly imaginative and playful concrete furniture and lamps, and his resin and vinyl wall pieces were a highlight of the Museum of Art and Design’s inaugural NYC Maker’s Biennale in 2014. For Collective, Kahn, 25, will present colorful and fantastical chandeliers, lamps, mirrors, and sconces inspired by a recent trip to South Africa. This will mark Kahn’s first showing in New York with Friedman Benda.