As the design calendar transitions from the high-profile events of Milan and New York Design Weeks into the onset of summer, creativity shows no signs of slowing. Across major cities from London to San Francisco, a diverse array of exhibitions this June are challenging conventions—whether through materials, form, or historical dialogue. These shows spotlight a global cohort of designers grappling with themes of resistance, transformation, and reverence for nature.
Marcin Rusak Preserves Botanical Decay in Resin at Carpenters Workshop Gallery, London
- Until July 12
Polish designer Marcin Rusak continues his exploration of impermanence in Vas Florum, Resina Botanica by suspending organic matter in rust-colored resin. The collection includes floral-infused tabletops inspired by boulders from Poland’s Solinka River and cast in bronze bases, along with vases featuring intricate arrangements of roses, orchids, daisies, and tulips. Rusak’s technique freezes fleeting botanical moments into enduring sculptural works.
Nilufar Brings Rare Italian Masterpieces to New York in “La Dolce Vita” at Galerie56
- Until August 27
Milan’s renowned Nilufar Gallery, led by Nina Yashar, makes its New York City debut with La Dolce Vita at Galerie56. The exhibition presents a carefully curated selection of rare Italian 20th-century design, including 1930s-era chairs by BBPR, a unique Malachite Trumeau cabinet by Piero Fornasetti, and furniture by Carlo Mollino and Ico Parisi. Yashar frames the presentation as a cultural bridge, merging Italy’s design legacy with New York’s architectural and artistic landscape.
Nick Valentijn Debuts Sculptural Brass Furniture at St. Vincents, Antwerp
- June 7–September 20
Dutch designer Nick Valentijn’s first solo exhibition features 12 one-off brass works that intentionally subvert traditional furniture utility. Presented at St. Vincents in Antwerp, the collection includes impractical cabinets and sprawling candleholders born of an intuitive making process. Forged in his grandfather’s workshop and finalized in a rural farmhouse, Valentijn’s work emphasizes raw materiality and tactile spontaneity.
Bec Brittain Examines Crystalline Structures in “IN/Organic” at Colony, New York
- June 17–July 11
Lighting designer Bec Brittain returns with her most extensive body of work in four years at IN/Organic. The Seed collection reimagines organic inspiration through rigid geometries, drawing from crystalline structures rather than fluid natural forms. The New York-based designer has resumed in-house production, allowing for greater creative oversight. The collection also includes pieces from her earlier Unfurl series, where botanical forms are expressed through asymmetrical brass and glass configurations.
Edgar Jayet Honors Vienna Secession in Paris Exhibition
- June 5–28
At Galerie Romain Morandi in Paris, Edgar Jayet’s Si je t’écris ce soir de Vienne… reflects on the modernist clarity of the Vienna Secession. Jayet introduces six new pieces that dialogue with original works by Koloman Moser, Josef Hoffmann, and Adolf Loos. Constructed by master artisans, Jayet’s contributions pay tribute to the era’s emphasis on refined structure and restrained ornamentation, as seen in a daybed whose craftsmanship subtly references Hoffmann’s iconic forms.
Rooms Studio Showcases Nearly a Decade of Work in Luxembourg
- Until August 15
Tbilisi-based Rooms Studio, founded by Nata Janberidze and Keti Toloraia, presents a retrospective at Galerie Liberté in Luxembourg. Spanning 2016 to 2025, the exhibition surveys narrative-driven works in diverse materials such as beeswax, stone, wood, and cast aluminum. The pieces reflect the studio’s evolution in scale and concept while echoing Georgia’s rich architectural and cultural history.
Formafantasma Explores American Archetypes in “Formation” at Friedman Benda, New York
- June 6–August 1
Italian design studio Formafantasma debuts its first U.S. gallery show at Friedman Benda, delving into the domestic legacy of American design. Using cherry wood as a foundational material, the collection integrates brushed aluminum and LED elements that evoke modern technologies. With influences ranging from Shaker furniture to George Nakashima, co-founders Andrea Trimarchi and Simone Farresin aim not to replicate history but to expand upon its forms through thoughtful reinterpretation.
Rafi Ajl Investigates Spatial Order in “Litanies” at Pallas, San Francisco
- Until June 9
At Pallas in San Francisco, designer Rafi Ajl presents Litanies, a study in containment and resistance through structure. Utilizing metallic grids and patinated materials, Ajl’s sculptural furniture challenges disorder while embracing a primitive elegance. The show features rectilinear chairs, mesh-wrapped sconces, and engraved detailing that blur the line between sculpture and utility.
Kazunori Hamana Melds Tradition and Intuition in Ceramic Works at Pierre Marie Giraud, Brussels
- Ongoing
Japanese ceramicist Kazunori Hamana unveils a series of hand-built vessels at Pierre Marie Giraud in Brussels. Drawing from the tradition of tsubo jars, each piece is shaped using coil methods and exposed to the elements, resulting in textured surfaces inscribed with spontaneous brushwork and literary fragments. Fired in an Edo-period kiln, the vessels encapsulate the passage of time, functioning as tactile metaphors for memory and bodily presence.
Across these global showcases, designers are rethinking form, material, and historical narrative—offering a summer of exhibitions rich in intellectual depth and aesthetic innovation.
