Paraphernalia: Desire, a showcase of gentle design acts

Desire exhibition, Paraphernalia group show - Courtesy of Paraphernalia.

‘Paraphernalia: Desire’ exhibition in New York City – All photos are courtesy of the curators.

Design. If you’re looking for a design experience that blends curiosity, craft, and emotion, swing by Fredericks & Mae design shop on the Lower East Side [6 Allen Street, Map] before May 31. The shop is hosting Paraphernalia: Desire, a thoughtfully curated exhibition by Eliza Axelson-Chidsey and Jess Fügler that brings together the work of 18 artists and designers, both familiar names and rising talents.

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The concept is simple but packed with creative potential: each participant was invited to create a small object, all within a 12″ x 12″ footprint. What emerged is a beautifully varied set of responses to the idea of desire, from the sensorial to the cerebral, from deeply personal to wonderfully playful.

Solar System Clock by Tom Gottelier.

Many pieces were made specifically for this show, each offering a unique take on the theme. Take, for example, Tom Gottelier’s Solar System Clock, which tells time by showing the real-time positions of the eight planets in orbit around the sun. It’s a cosmic reminder of how small—and interconnected—we are.

Liam Monaghan’s Resonance turns electronic music tools into collaborative instruments, transforming solitary gear into objects meant for connection and expression. It’s desire, remixed.

Resonance by Liam Monaghan.

Then there’s Kirsi Enkovaara’s tactile clay tableware, which was designed to help one feel more connected to the present and to ease anxiety. These pieces double as dining objects and sensory tools, helping you stay present and at ease. Ola Mirecka brings intimacy into focus with Modern Lovers, a Greek-style vase that considers how tech is reshaping our relationships, fostering both closeness and distance in equal measure.

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Juntos Project’s Tata Mirror is another standout. This handheld vanity mirror is subtly shaped in homage to the female form, transforming a daily ritual into an act of quiet self-reflection and sensual awareness. For those drawn to tactile nostalgia, Richard Haining’s Closer candlesticks, made from salvaged and ink-stained wood, are poetic in their simplicity. They speak to longing—both for the people we miss and the joy that comes from being together.

Closer by Richard Haining.

Rounding things out with a dose of whimsy, Lauren Davies’ Funnelfair reimagines everyday kitchen funnels as sculptural delights. Inspired by the shapes and colors of a fairground, her stackable designs are both functional and charmingly fun—an invitation to play while you cook.

Funnelfair by Lauren Davies at the 'Paraphernalia-Desire' exhibition - Courtesy of the curators.

Funnelfair by ‘Heka.London’ Lauren Davies.

Paraphernalia: Desire is the second edition of this annual exhibition series, following a successful debut last year. If you’re in New York and even a little design-curious, this show is well worth a visit. It’s a warm, imaginative reminder that even the smallest objects can hold our biggest emotions.