Difference between revisions of "Chen Chen & Kai Williams"

Latest revision as of 00:47, 27 November 2023

Chen Chen & Kai Williams is a design studio that explores materials and new ways to use them. The studio invents new techniques and materials or diverts common industrial supplies to off-label applications.

Chen Chen and Kai Williams met while attending the Pratt Institute and founded the company in New York City in 2011 at 13 Greenpoint Avenue. The studio creates a wide range of products from one-off and limited edition collectible works to specialty commercial goods.

Past clients include Whitney Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Gagosian, Kvadrat, Hem, Shinola, West Elm, Mission Chinese Food and Heron Preston.

CV

Museum Shows
2014 – Museum of Arts and Design “NYC Makers”, New York City, NY, USA
2013 - Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Trento and Rovereto “Progetto Cibo – La Forma del Gusto”, Rovereto, Italy

Solo Shows
2022 - The Future Perfect “Mineral Abstraction”, San Francisco, CA, USA
2019 – The Future Perfect “Romancing the Stone”, New York City, NY, USA
2016 - Tai Ping Carpets “Cold Cuts Coasters”, Paris, France

Group Shows
2023 - Marta “Make-Do”, New York City, NY, USA
2022 - Objective Gallery "sexy", New York City, NY, USA
2022 - Brooklyn Botanical Gardens “For the Birds”, Brooklyn, NY, USA
2022 - Superhouse “Super Group 2.5”, Milan, Italy
2021 - Superhouse “Super Group 2”, New York City, NY, USA
2021 - "The Unboxing Show", London, UK
2021 - 13 Desserts “Azur”, Hyères, France
2021 - Emma Scully Gallery “Cast Iron”, New York City, NY, USA
2021 - Storefront for Art and Architecture “Re-Source”, New York City, NY, USA
2020 - Marta “Under / Over”, Los Angeles, CA, USA
2019 - Jack Hanley Gallery "Horology", New York City, NY, USA
2019 - The Future Perfect "The Chair", New York City, NY, USA
2019 – Friedman / Benda “Blow Up”, New York City, NY, USA
2018 – Plant Seven “This is not a chair.” High Point, NC, USA
2018 – “Plasticscene”, London, UK
2018 – Storefront for Art and Architecture “24x24x24”, New York City, NY, USA
2017 – Kvadrat “My Canvas”, London, UK
2017 – Spazio Nobile “Crystalized”, Brussels, Belgium
2017 – Chamber “Domestic Appeal”, New York City, NY, USA
2016 – Chamber “Of Cabinets and Curiosities”, New York City, NY, USA
2016 – Chamber “Human Nature”, New York City, NY, USA

Fairs
2021 - Design Miami, The Future Perfect, Miami, FL, USA
2020 - Design Miami, The Future Perfect, Miami, FL, USA
2019 - Design Miami, The Future Perfect, Booth G16, Miami, FL, USA
2018 – Design Miami, The Future Perfect, Booth G35, Miami, FL, USA
2018 – Collectible Design Fair. Spazio Nobile “Phantasmagoria”, Brussels, Belgium
2018 – Collectible Design Fair, Sight Unseen Presents, Brussels, Belgium
2017 – FOG Design + Art, Patrick Parrish Gallery, Booth 307, San Francisco, CA, USA
2016 – Design Miami, Patrick Parrish Gallery, Booth G18, Miami, FL, USA
2013 – Venice Architecture Biennial “Wunderkammer”, Venice, Italy

Studio Locations

2011 - 2013 at 13 Greenpoint Avenue
2014 - 2023 at 169 54th Street
2023 - Now at 267 23rd Street

Material Exploration

The first collaborative project of Chen Chen and Kai Williams was the Cold Cuts Coasters, produced by soaking strips of spandex netting and rope into urethane resin and then wrapping it around a primarily wood core. This experimental method of playing with materials has become a signature of the studio, especially in the creation of composite materials (two or more disparate types of materials combined into one).

Notable composites include UV bonding cut stone to glass as seen in Floating Stone tables and encasing glass spheres in zinc for Brittle Star lights.

Manufacturing

When the studio began all products were handmade in the studio and a large majority of designs, especially ones with unconventional materials and processes, are still made in the studio. Starting in 2014 the studio began working with factories and fabricators in the United States and overseas to make less complex, single material products. The studio also works with manufacturing partners to create a wide range of designs for various markets.

Environments

While a small part of the practice, the studio has been the designers of retail environments including a display system that is used in 3 Baggu Store locations as well as adapted for tradeshow booths. The system is minimal and designed to disappear once the highly colorful and graphic products are placed on it.

Other spaces include an Études Pop-Up in 2014 and the lower dining area and bar at Mission Chinese Food on East Broadway.

Anecdotes

The decision to put Chen's name first was to reference the CK of Calvin Klein.

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 '''Chen Chen & Kai Williams''' is a design studio that explores materials and new ways to use them. The studio invents new techniques and materials or diverts common industrial supplies to off-label applications.
-[[Chen Chen]] and [[Kai Williams]] met while attending the Pratt Institute and founded the company in New York City in 2011 at [[13 Greenpoint Avenue]]. The studio creates a wide range of products from one-off and limited production collectible works to specialty commercial goods.
+[[Chen Chen]] and [[Kai Williams]] met while attending the Pratt Institute and founded the company in New York City in 2011 at [[13 Greenpoint Avenue]]. The studio creates a wide range of products from one-off and limited edition collectible works to specialty commercial goods.
-Past clients include Whitney Museum, Phillips de Pury, Gagosian, Kvadrat, Shinola and Mission Chinese Food. Presentations of their work have been held at the Museum of Art and Design (USA) and the Venice Architecture Biennale (Italy).
+Past clients include Whitney Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Gagosian, [[Lion Dance Costume|Kvadrat]], Hem, Shinola, West Elm, [[Mission Chinese Food]] and Heron Preston.
-==Material Exploration==
+==CV==
-The first collaborative project of Chen Chen and Kai Williams was the [[Cold Cuts Coasters]], produced by soaking strips of spandex netting and rope into urethane resin and then wrapping it around a primarily wood core. This experimental method of playing with materials has become a signature of the studio, especially in the creation of composite materials (two or more disparate types of materials combined into one).
+Museum Shows<br />
+– Museum of Arts and Design [https://madmuseum.org/exhibition/nyc-makers “NYC Makers”], New York City, NY, USA<br />
+- Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Trento and Rovereto
+[http://www.mart.tn.it/progettocibo “Progetto Cibo – La Forma del Gusto”], Rovereto, Italy<br />
-Notable composites include UV bonding cut stone to glass as seen in [[Floating Stone]] tables and encasing glass spheres in zinc for [[Brittle Star]] lights.
+Solo Shows<br />
+- The Future Perfect [https://www.thefutureperfect.com/exhibition/mineral-abstraction/ “Mineral Abstraction”], San Francisco, CA, USA <br />
+– The Future Perfect [https://www.thefutureperfect.com/exhibition/romancing-the-stone/ “Romancing the Stone”], New York City, NY, USA<br />
+- Tai Ping Carpets “Cold Cuts Coasters”, Paris, France<br />
-==Manufacturing Partners==
+Group Shows<br />
-In addition to self production, the studio also designs products for manufacturers.
+- Marta [https://marta.la/exhibitions/various-artists-make-do “Make-Do”], New York City, NY, USA<br />
+- Objective Gallery [https://www.objectivegallery.com/exhibition/sexy "sexy"], New York City, NY, USA<br />
+- Brooklyn Botanical Gardens [https://www.bbg.org/feature/birdhouses “For the Birds”], Brooklyn, NY, USA<br />
+- Superhouse “Super Group 2.5”, Milan, Italy<br />
+- Superhouse [https://www.superhouse.us/exhibitions/super-group-2 “Super Group 2”], New York City, NY, USA<br />
+- [https://londondesignfestival.com/event/unboxing-show "The Unboxing Show"], London, UK<br />
+- 13 Desserts “Azur”, Hyères, France <br />
+- Emma Scully Gallery [https://www.emmascullygallery.com/projects/cast-iron “Cast Iron”], New York City, NY, USA <br />
+- Storefront for Art and Architecture [https://www.storefrontbenefit.com/ “Re-Source”], New York City, NY, USA<br />
+- Marta [https://marta.la/exhibitions/under-over “Under / Over”,] Los Angeles, CA, USA<br />
+- Jack Hanley Gallery [http://www.jackhanley.com/exhibitions/horology "Horology"], New York City, NY, USA<br />
+- The Future Perfect [https://www.thefutureperfect.com/exhibition/the-chair/ "The Chair"], New York City, NY, USA<br />
+– Friedman / Benda [http://www.friedmanbenda.com/exhibitions/upcoming/blow-up/5 “Blow Up”], New York City, NY, USA<br />
+– Plant Seven [https://plantseven.com/gallery-tinac “This is not a chair.”] High Point, NC, USA<br />
+– [https://www.londondesignfestival.com/event/plastic-scene “Plasticscene”], London, UK<br />
+– Storefront for Art and Architecture [http://storefrontnews.org/programming/24x24x24/ “24x24x24”], New York City, NY, USA<br />
+– Kvadrat [https://kvadrat.dk/my-canvas “My Canvas”], London, UK<br />
+– Spazio Nobile [https://spazionobile.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Spazio_Nobile_Crystallized_catalogue.pdf “Crystalized”], Brussels, Belgium<br />
+– Chamber [https://chambernyc.com/exhibitions/domestic-appeal-part-iii/ “Domestic Appeal”], New York City, NY, USA<br />
+– Chamber [https://chambernyc.com/exhibitions/of-cabinets-and-curiosities/ “Of Cabinets and Curiosities”], New York City, NY, USA<br />
+– Chamber [https://chambernyc.com/exhibitions/human-nature/ “Human Nature”], New York City, NY, USA<br />
-[[Areaware]]
+Fairs<br />
+- Design Miami, The Future Perfect, Miami, FL, USA<br />
+- Design Miami, The Future Perfect, Miami, FL, USA<br />
+- Design Miami, The Future Perfect, Booth G16, Miami, FL, USA<br />
+– Design Miami, The Future Perfect, Booth G35, Miami, FL, USA<br />
+– Collectible Design Fair. Spazio Nobile “Phantasmagoria”, Brussels, Belgium<br />
+– Collectible Design Fair, Sight Unseen Presents, Brussels, Belgium<br />
+– FOG Design + Art,  Patrick Parrish Gallery, Booth 307, San Francisco, CA, USA<br />
+– Design Miami, Patrick Parrish Gallery, Booth G18, Miami, FL, USA<br />
+– Venice Architecture Biennial “Wunderkammer”, Venice, Italy<br />
-[[Good Thing]]
+==Studio Locations==
+- 2013 at [[13 Greenpoint Avenue]]<br>
+- 2023 at [[169 54th Street]]<br>
+- Now at [[267 23rd Street]]<br>
-[[Tai Ping Carpets]]
+==Material Exploration==
+The first collaborative project of Chen Chen and Kai Williams was the [[Cold Cuts Coasters]], produced by soaking strips of spandex netting and rope into urethane resin and then wrapping it around a primarily wood core. This experimental method of playing with materials has become a signature of the studio, especially in the creation of composite materials (two or more disparate types of materials combined into one).
-==Environments==
+Notable composites include UV bonding cut stone to glass as seen in [[Floating Stone]] tables and encasing glass spheres in zinc for [[Brittle Star]] lights.
-While a small part of the practice, the studio has been the designers of retail environments including a display system that is used in 3 [[Baggu Store]] locations as well as adapted for tradeshow booths. To outside viewers this system may be surprisingly minimal and is designed to disappear once the highly colorful and graphic products are placed on it.
+==Manufacturing==
+When the studio began all products were handmade in the [[Studio Produced|studio]] and a large majority of designs, especially ones with unconventional materials and processes, are still made in the studio. Starting in 2014 the studio began working with [[Self Sourced|factories and fabricators]] in the United States and overseas to make less complex, single material products. The studio also works with [[Manufacturing Partners|manufacturing partners]] to create a wide range of designs for various markets.
-[[Mission Chinese Food]]
+==Environments==
-[[Études Pop-Up]]
+While a small part of the practice, the studio has been the designers of retail environments including a display system that is used in 3 [[Baggu Store]] locations as well as adapted for tradeshow booths. The system is minimal and designed to disappear once the highly colorful and graphic products are placed on it.
-==Studio Objects==
+Other spaces include an [[Études Pop-Up]] in 2014 and the lower dining area and bar at [[Mission Chinese Food]] on East Broadway.
-The original objects that are the ideological basis of the studio were all hand produced in the studio. As the studio has grown to design for manufacturers and self source with factories the core practice of the studio has remained [[Studio Produced]] objects.
 ==Anecdotes==
-The decision to put Chen's name first was based solely on referencing the CK of Calvin Klein.
+The decision to put Chen's name first was to reference the CK of Calvin Klein.