African design in NYC

In a brilliant new collaboration, New York-based gallery and showroom, Amaridian, has teamed up with Cape Town’s Design Africa to showcase and promote excellence in African design.

Representing a selection of studios from several countries across the African continent, Amaridian promotes emerging African design talent. The portfolio of design studios selected – including six from our very own shores – consists of those whose unique work displays innovation and commercial excellence.

South African design favourites included are Mud Ceramics’ handcrafted clay bead Mud Chandeliers, Ronel Jordaan’s felted wool pebbles, cushions and other designs, and Willowlamp’s striking ball-chain chandeliers. Then there are Greg and Roche Dry’s fun Egg Designs, characterised by an element of surprise, Twig’s sizable, sculptural woven objects and stools, and Zenzulu’s woven telephone wire creations.

From further afield is Mali’s Aboubakar Fofana. As a boy, Aboubakar would gather wild indigo leaves for his grandmother and found himself captivated by the ancient art of natural indigo dying. Today his heritage is expressed in the inspiring designs he creates, with a nuanced blue palette on hand-spun, hand-woven fabrics. Also from Mali, Diallo Design’s Cheick Diallo collaborates with skilled artisans to transform everyday materials such as nylon cord into imaginative, recognizable designs. His work, including the Sansa chair and Africa Remix armchair, is sought after by top collectors and retailers and has been featured in international exhibitions.

Swaziland’s Philiippa Thorne collaborates with talented Swazi weavers to create the Gone Rural range of handmade design objects. The Fair Trade organization creates beautiful bowls that combine traditional weaving of indigenous grasses with a ceramic or copper base. From Ghana comes Kpando Pottery – clay shaped into organic ceramic forms by women from Ghana’s Kpando community, under the guidance of Nii Noi Dowuona. The vessels are fired over bamboo, giving them their signature black metallic patina. Fellow Ghanaians Kweku and Josephine Forson create handmade wooden furniture under the Tekura Design name.  

The exciting partnership between Amaridian and Design Africa promises to make the all-important connection between African design talent and discerning international markets. It’s a crucial link and about time that such a platform was offered to some of Africa’s most creative minds.

More information: www.amaridianusa.com