Design Dysphoria – All photos are by Joe Kramn.
Design–Dysphoria is a sense of discomfort, distress and incompleteness that could also be linked to gender identity issues. Dysphoric, the opposite of euphoric, is probably also how the protagonists of the Design Dysphoria exhibition felt. “Fashion is the only design area that champions the work of non-binary and trans designers. There are big holes in the design world that need to be filled, and this project represents a step towards that.” Says textile artist Liz Collins.
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Collins co-curated the queer-led exhibition at NYCxDESIGN 2024 with designers Erica Sellers and Jeremy Silberberg of Studio S II and interdisciplinary glass and performance artist Grace Whiteside. Design Dysphoria aims to give voice to LGBT+ creatives, who are often underrepresented in the design business. The exhibition comprises furniture, glass lighting fixtures, textile artwork, and interactive design objects by women, nonbinary, and trans designers and artists, seeking to foster connections and a sense of belonging within the LGBTQIA+ community.
Erica Sellers and Jeremy Silberberg of Studio S II said “DESIGN DYSPHORIA is our studio’s inaugural exhibition. We inherently challenge the boundaries of space with design, and our queerness is an integral part of that.” The duo presents a deceiving chair meant to share the feeling and effect of “double vision,” the phenomenon of perceiving two images, usually overlapping, as one holistic object.
Liz Collins showcases striking textiles with vibrant patterns. For her conjoined chairs, she used the furniture’s metal frame as a matrix, weaving fabric into it in a thick warp/weft structure and allowing it to drape freely in between.
Zander Schlacter wrapped a plinth-like structure with ceramic tiles ‘tangled’ together by a clever pattern. Exquisite handblown lighting glasswork by Grace Whiteside for her brand Sticky Glass dangles from above with colourful spikes. Nima Jeizan presents hand sculptures made from marble, brass, wood, and dyed horse hair. Jeremy Martin sculpted watercolour paintings into functional pedestals cast in resin.
Manic weaver Kira Keck showcases a red patterned piece next to a chihuahua dog and its cage, both entirely crafted in glass by Deborah Czeresko. Vivian Chu unveils a new totemic optical wooden sculpture exploring ideas of visibility and perception. Larry Krone crafted and patched a colourful textile artwork hanging from the ceiling.
“We are carving out some Queer Space with an incredible cohort of designers and artists that are all crossing disciplines and blurring boundaries within their practices, a notion of queerness itself. The vibrant and collective energy in the space alone will become a big part of this exhibition,” concludes Grace Whiteside.
All photos are by Joe Kramn.
