Felipe Pantone and Los Angeles designer Etai Drori collaborate on "Parallel Practices: Tailored Structures & Kinetic Surfaces" at albertz benda Los Angeles. The exhibition marks their first joint project, pairing Pantone's optical kinetic artworks with Drori's reimagined mid-century furniture pieces and custom textiles.
Pantone, known for his vibrant geometric abstractions and op-art influenced practice, brings his signature kinetic vocabulary to the show. His work explores movement and visual rhythm through color and pattern. Drori responds by transforming classic furniture silhouettes into sculptural objects that echo Pantone's formal language. Custom textiles bridge both practitioners' approaches, functioning as both functional design elements and visual art.
The exhibition explores how optical art translates beyond canvas into three-dimensional space and domestic contexts. Rather than treating furniture as mere backdrop, both artists elevate functional pieces into contemplative objects. The collaboration questions hierarchies between fine art and design, suggesting that craftsmanship and conceptual rigor operate on equal footing.
albertz benda, the Los Angeles gallery representing both artists, orchestrates the pairing strategically. The gallery has positioned itself as a space where contemporary artists and designers negotiate shared visual languages. This show continues that trajectory, demonstrating how kinetic principles can animate everyday objects.
The timing reflects broader industry interest in furniture as art object. Collectors increasingly value design pieces that operate as sculptural statements. Pantone's growing profile in contemporary art circles amplifies this crossover appeal. Drori's approach to furniture design resonates with a generation prioritizing handcraft and intentional production over mass manufacture.
"Parallel Practices" suggests that kinetic art and furniture design share common ancestry. Both demand spatial awareness, material expertise, and consideration of how viewers navigate form. Pantone's optical abstractions gain