Fourth House

CURATED BY Elena Frampton

september 18, 2023 – October 24, 2023
NEW YORK

Wexler Gallery presents Fourth House, an exhibition curated by interior designer and art advisor Elena Frampton. This collaboration was a natural fit for Wexler Gallery, due to Frampton’s approach to creating bold, artful interiors and her knowledge of the fine art space, in which Wexler Gallery is also engaged. Fourth House represents the second collaboration between Wexler Gallery and a guest curator during WNWN. Wexler Gallery owner Sherri Apter Wexler says, “WNWN presents the perfect opportunity to highlight the unique approach of one of the city’s brightest voices in interior design. We are always interested in exploring fresh perspectives towards our artists and their works.” These guest-curated exhibitions typically showcase works from Wexler’s designers mixed with select pieces from the interior designer’s own collection. In Fourth House Elena Frampton’s Arc Desk and Tux Sofa will be on view. Elena Frampton 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 20, 5-7pm. The exhibition will continue through October 24, 2023.

Drawing on the 1970s for inspiration, Frampton reimagined what the decade’s free-spirited divergence would look like as a present-day living room. The space brings together organic and geometric forms, plush and glossy textures, and warm earth tones and sleek metallics into an eclectic and cohesive contemporary vision. Fourth House references the 70s-era popularity of astrology, and astrological houses that rule different areas of life with the fourth house being the house of the home.

The focal point of the space is Purple Tantra, a tapestry by Jan Yoors dating from 1976. Featuring a large-scale, abstract organic pattern, the hand-knotted wool tapestry introduces artistry with tactile warmth. The space invites lounging with low-slung seating and curvilinear furnishings. Pieces on view include Rogi, a sculptural, geometric chair by Rodney Lawrence and Igor Bernardes; Tux, a modern take on the classic tuxedo sofa designed by Frampton Co; and Arc, a gently curved desk finished in high-gloss terracotta lacquer, also by Frampton Co. A selection of tables by designers Gregory Nangle and Ekin Varon are minimal in form, yet rich in materials. A mix of cast-bronze, gunmetal patinated stainless steel, violet blown glass, and vintage Italian cream glass exude lustrous warmth and glamour.

A soft glow illuminates the space, cast from a mix of geometric and nature-inspired fixtures crafted in gleaming metals. Andreea Avram Rusu’s Continuum chandelier and an arrangement of new Cyclops pendants provide soft, subtle lighting throughout, while Silver Ginko Puddle Sconces flank Cosmos, a triptych mirror installation, both by Gregory Nangle. Accessories from Rosemary Hallgarten reference the textiles and textures of the era, and include a thick alpaca bouclé rug, as well as plush sheep fur and hand-dyed watercolor pillows. The living room is completed by contemporary artworks composed of unexpected, modern materials including Nick Missel’s silicone-cast functional sculptures Apollo and big league, and Radiance, a hanging sculpture by Maribel Portela composed of shimmering gold PVC.

About Elena Frampton

Elena Frampton founded Frampton Co on Cinco de Mayo 2015, following nearly two decades at the helm of a successful bi-coastal design practice and honing her craft at some of New York's most prestigious interior design firms. Through a wholly-integrated approach, Elena makes sense of every space and brings out its spirit. Her knack for clever solutions that strike a balance between pragmatism and personality draws even the most cautious of clients into her process.

With an infectious enthusiasm for art and a rigorous understanding of design theory, she is an expert in creating consistently one-of-a-kind environments that transcend boundaries. Elena’s innate ability to shape space goes back to a childhood of balancing two worlds, between her maternal Mexican family in Los Angeles and the Midwestern farm on her father’s side. Her experience of navigating the desert landscapes of Arizona at college, with its bounty of interventions, inspires the construction of the layers and ‘reveals’ that characterize her design and curatorial practice. This, combined with her keen eye for detail, is key to the surprising combinations and unexpected applications that make her stand out as an unparalleled talent uniquely positioned in both the art and design worlds.

Her curious nature and strong desire to forge connections fuels a constant search for new forms of creative expression. The vision culminates with Exhibition The Barn; the Bridgehampton gallery where she curates an ever-changing display of notable and under-the-radar works and her own original furnishings, F Collection.