Forbidden Garden

CURATED BY RODNEY LAWRENCE

SEPTEMBER 14 – DECEMBER 9, 2022
NEW YORK

Wexler Gallery presents Forbidden Garden, an exhibition curated by interior designer Rodney Lawrence and inspired by his passion for the 1950s science fiction film Forbidden Planet. Lawrence re-imagines the ambiance of Dr. Morbius’s alien garden from the movie as a 21st century leisure space filled with red foliage, green skies, unusual formations, and exotic animals. New ceramic pieces by Trish DeMasi and a carved onyx sconce installation by Stephen Shaheen will be on view alongside a recent custom lounge chair design by Lawrence, an asymmetric shearling rug by Rosemary Hallgarten, and a dramatic 1966 tapestry by Jan Yoors, one of the twentieth century’s seminal textile artists. Fantastical works by Judy Kensley McKie, Patrick Weder, Andreea Avram Rusu, Gregory Nangle, Mami Kato, and Henry Bermudez round out this extraordinary environment. Rodney Lawrence and many of the artists will be on hand for an opening reception in conjunction with What’s New What’s Next at the New York Design Center on Wednesday, September 14, 5:30-7pm.

For Forbidden Garden, Lawrence has brought the outside in as he often does, but in a new and other-worldly way. The works in the exhibition all take their cues from the environment, expanding into the unknown beyond. The surreal landscapes and atmosphere of Forbidden Planet are echoed in the forms on display, associations with nature refracted through the artists’ creativity and subconscious.

About Rodney Lawrence

With more than 15 years of experience, interior designer Rodney Lawrence has a degree in Art History from Dartmouth, as well as a Master of Arts in Decorative History and Design from the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. He currently dedicates his talents in the high-end residential and corporate segments; his work is a reference for comfortable, modern, and sensible environments that value well-being. Unity and contrast define Lawrence’s aesthetic. Art history and contemporary designs blend into his work to create sophisticated and refined spaces that outlast trends, but are still full of warmth and personality. Lawrence resides in Brooklyn, and was recently named to the 2022 Elle Décor A List.