Fractal furniture: Holly Hunt collaborates with artist Paula Crown
It's a honeymoon week for the ongoing marriage between art and design. The amicable pair blissfully merge for London’s Frieze Art Fair and PAD – and American designer Holly Hunt is exploring the other half for the first time, collaborating with contemporary artist Paula Crown.
The exhibition, titled ‘The Paula Crown Affair’ (a collaboration with New York's Marlborough Gallery), is hosting Crown’s artwork alongside two new furniture pieces decorated with the her fractal designs, on show at Hunt’s Mayfair space.
Their fruitful coupling began in Chicago – the city where both creative minds come from; ‘Paula’s graphic sensibility is exceptional,' explains Hunt, 'and the depth of her fractal drawings made for an interesting application to marble.’
Crown’s organic work is said to explore place and landscape, made graphic through its patterned form. Unanchored Coordinates, one of the many prints on show, is made up of thousands of geometric lines, converging so as to almost appear 3D. Another intriguing work is a selection of MRI brain scans, 2013's Inside My Head: a contemporary self portrait, which displays tunnel visions deep into the brain that Crown has manipulated with ink on acrylic.
For the collaboration, Crown’s ‘dimensionsionised drawings’ are transcribed through brass inlaying onto Hunt’s modern pieces, creating two contemporary and fascinating forms. The gold print glows against the deep and dark Nero Assoluto marble pedestal and Vetro Bianco side table.
The installation, titled ’The Paula Crown Affair’, is hosting the Chicago-based artist’s work alongside a new pedestal and side table, on show at Hunt’s Mayfair space
Crown’s organic work is said to explore place and landscape made graphic through its geometric fractal form. Pictured: Unanchored Coordinates, 2014
Bearings Down, 2013 displays more of Crown’s digitalised, yet organic, prints
For the collaboration, Crown’s ‘dimensionsionised drawings’ are transcribed through brass inlaying onto Hunt’s modern pieces, creating two contemporary and fascinating forms
The gold print glows against the deep and dark Nero Assoluto marble pedestal and Vetro Bianco side table
INFORMATION
‘The Paula Crown Affair’ is on view until 18 October
ADDRESS
Holly Hunt
20 Grafton Street
London, W1S 4DZ
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Sujata Burman is a writer and editor based in London, specialising in design and culture. She was Digital Design Editor at Wallpaper* before moving to her current role of Head of Content at London Design Festival and London Design Biennale where she is expanding the content offering of the showcases. Over the past decade, Sujata has written for global design and culture publications, and has been a speaker, moderator and judge for institutions and brands including RIBA, D&AD, Design Museum and Design Miami/. In 2019, she co-authored her first book, An Opinionated Guide to London Architecture, published by Hoxton Mini Press, which was driven by her aim to make the fields of design and architecture accessible to wider audiences.
-
Lighting designer Andi Watson on creating Mitski’s sculptural stage for 'The Land'In Mitski’s live show and new concert film, a single beam of light becomes her dance partner. Lighting designer Andi Watson discusses turning shadow, movement and restraint into the architecture of feeling
-
Making mirrors with A Vibe Called Tech, the collective democratising designLast week, Wallpaper* Paris Editor Amy Serafin spent a day with a group of creatives led by Julie Richoz, making mirrors: here's what went down (and how to make your own)
-
A postcard from We Design Beirut: 'We’re learning how to break barriers and create dialogue'The second edition of We Design Beirut celebrated design, architecture, heritage and creativity
-
Out of office: The Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekFrom sumo wrestling to Singaporean fare, medieval manuscripts to magnetic exhibitions, the Wallpaper* team have traversed the length and breadth of culture in the British capital this week
-
Who are the nine standout artists that shaped Frieze London 2025?Amid the hectic Frieze London schedule, many artists were showcasing extraordinary work this year. Here are our favourites
-
Out of office: The Wallpaper* editors' picks of the weekThe London office of Wallpaper* had a very important visitor this week. Elsewhere, the team traverse a week at Frieze
-
Leo Costelloe turns the kitchen into a site of fantasy and uneaseFor Frieze week, Costelloe transforms everyday domesticity into something intimate, surreal and faintly haunted at The Shop at Sadie Coles
-
Tiffany & Co’s artist mentorship at Frieze London puts creative exchange centre stageAt Frieze London 2025, Tiffany & Co partners with the fair’s Artist-to-Artist initiative, expanding its reach and reaffirming the value of mentorship within the global art community
-
Out of office: the Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekAs we approach Frieze, our editors have been trawling the capital's galleries. Elsewhere: a 'Wineglass' marathon, a must-see film, and a visit to a science museum
-
Frieze Sculpture is back – here's what to see in Regent's ParkFrieze Sculpture has returned to Regent's Park. As London gears up for Art Week, here's what to see on the fringes
-
Frieze London is back! Here’s what to seeAs London gears up for Frieze 2025 (15-19 October), plan your visit early