In his first solo presentation at Design Miami/ Basel, new works from Misha Kahn’s best-known series—Saturday Morning, Scrappy, Rock, Claymation—are on display alongside recently-established methodologies, such as VR. One of three solo shows opening to the public this spring—Kahn’s Basel debut imparts a cross-section of his world.
A large-scale mohair rug, titled A Few Loose Ends , will anchor Kahn’s presentation. This dual-sided work belongs to a series of unique tapestries and carpets designed by Kahn and handwoven by Stephens Tapestry of Johannesburg and Eswatini. A metaphysical inquiry, the rug establishes new ground wherein age-old techniques are invigorated with the provocations of technology.
The Scavenger , a cabinet composed entirely of once-loved objects—even a car door—towers as a virtuosic assemblage. A Latent Longing , a unique aluminum and candy-colored glass console upends traditional notions of the typology. A work from a new series, Crater Mirror, embodies the bombastic nature of cosmic tourism. Kahn will also debut a Rock series offshoot that explores glazed lava rock as the foundation for a breakfast table. Finally, building on his experience creating one-off upholstered furniture, Kahn will premiere Mole Eats Worm , a mold-breaking edition of sofas.
Exceedingly diverse in materials and processes, the seemingly disparate threads of Kahn’s practice will intertwine conceptually to demonstrate his capabilities as a creative force seeking to articulate, and perhaps even upend, contemporary material culture.
about misha kahn
Misha Kahn has emerged as one of the leading creative voices of his generation. Through a wildly imaginative approach that embraces spontaneity and non-conformity, Kahn allows the illogical and the irreverent to take over his process. He employs an entire spectrum from lo-fi and ad hoc techniques—such as improvisational molds and collage—to virtual reality.
Born in Duluth, Minnesota in 1989, Kahn graduated from Rhode Island School of Design in 2011 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Furniture Design. Early in his career, he gained recognition when he was featured in the Museum of Arts and Design’s Biennial (2014).
Unafraid to push boundaries, Kahn is driven to self-invent, adapt, and further processes in a myriad of mediums including metalwork, glass, wood, textiles, ceramic, casting, fiberglass, resin, and cement. Embracing an unorthodox result, he seeks the opportunity to learn from masters in their respective crafts. For example, Kahn’s acclaimed woven Scrappy series (since 2015) is the result of a collaboration with Gone Rural, a female group of traditional weavers based in Eswatini. He has also produced several woven tapestries and rugs with Stephens Tapestry Studio of South Africa. Other meaningful practitioners whom Kahn has worked with include artist Alma Allen’s studio in Mexico, glass sculptor Deborah Czeresko in Brooklyn, and the famed late Italian jewelry designer GianCarlo Montebello.
In April 2022 Museum Villa Stuck opened Kahn’s first institutional solo show titled Wobble Moon: Objects from the Capricious Age. His work has been exhibited internationally and is in the permanent collection of museums such as the Corning Museum of Glass, NY; Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX; Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, TX and Speed Museum of Art, Louisville, KY. Kahn lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.
