The Party: The Chicago debut of Pieces of Ourselves, the sculptural furniture and limited-edition series by artist and designer Kathy Taslitz. The Venue: A tribute to Taslitz’s themes of nature and purity, the Wright Gallery was outfitted in organic, wintry whites—a perfect backdrop for the 14 sculptural pieces made of blackened bronze, polished nickel and macassar ebony. The Food: Catered by Greg Christian Catering and Events, the hors d’oeuvres included carnival squash beef tenderloin rolled with cranberry cream, organic pizza with cremini mushrooms and Vidalia onions, and sautéed shrimp with tequila buck squash. The Party Favor: Each lucky guest was given Taslitz’s book, Pieces of Ourselves, and Wright catalogues, famous for being visually stunning.



Dealer-turned-auctioneer Richard Wright has made the once-mewling market for Modernist design roar internationally since opening his upstart eponymous Chicago auction house in 2000. Now he’s about to break new ground—and invariably electrify a new market—once again. But this time he’s blending the skills he’s honed in both businesses. “We’re moving beyond just auctions, and developing a contemporary program,” Wright reveals. Last month, he signed a contract commissioning one-of-a-kind pieces from Arik Levy, the Israeli-born Parisian designer whose work is produced by Zanotta, Vitra, Ligne-Roset, Baccarant and more. But Levy is just the start of the international line-up that Wright is cultivating. Wright hosted a week-long show of studio furniture by Chicago artist Kathy Taslitz in February, and met recently with Droog Design and Johanna Grawunder with hopes of mounting shows for their work.

by Samantha Brooks

For her first furnishings collection, Kathy Taslitz communed with nature, at least symbolically. “I wanted to do something that was a metaphor for the parallels between man and nature,” says the interior designer, who debuted Pieces of Ourselves at Art Basel Miami Beach this past December. The 14 limited editions are available through Taslitz’s new showroom on Chicago’s Superior Street—include Old Leaf, a bronze side table with a blackened surface and polished underside. “It’s meant to resemble a leaf at the point just before it falls off of the tree, when one side is rough and crinkled and the other side is still soft,” she says. “People age the same way; even as we get older on the outside, the strength and grace inside us is still fresh and shiny.” Clearly, the idea for Calm Table, with its polished nickel top and blackened bronze base resembling branches, grew in the same fertile mind.

Look at the top design trends for the coming year, and it’s clear that the past will shape our future. The Hollywood Regency craze has evolved, creating a hunger for antiques and cleverly updated pieces that pay homage to French neoclassicism and all-American tradition. A counterpoint to all this ornamentation? There’s a separate move toward minimalism, including chinoiserie that’s more Mod than Ming. And as for bringing the natural world home: We’re not out of the woods yet. Read more »

“Pieces of Ourselves” launch by Designer Kathy Taslitz hosted by celebrity jeweler Martin Katz.

Home of Martin and Kelly Katz

Artist and interior designer Kathy Taslitz introduced her latest sculptural furniture collection, Pieces of Ourselves, last month. The collection uses the forms and metaphors of nature to address recurring themes of humanity. Taslitz draws inspiration from her love of other cultures, travel and the exotic. The Calm table is created with blackened bronze and polished nickel-plated aluminum.