Copenhagen’s Studio Oliver Gustav is currently presenting “Staging”, an exhibition co-curated by Michèle Lamy and Oliver Gustav that places Rick Owens’ sculptural furniture in conversation with contemporary art. On view through October 11, 2025, the exhibition brings together a focused selection of works by Owens, alongside contributions from Scarlett Rouge, Giovanni Leonardo Bassan, Kaare Golles, Jan Janssen, Héctor Esrawe and Rasmus Rosengaard.
The exhibition unfolds in Gustav’s neoclassical 1920s building, a setting that reinforces his reputation for controlled, atmospheric displays. Here, the furniture is treated not as functional design but as sculptural objects, exploring the intersection of contemporary art, design, and spatial storytelling. Rick Owens’ pieces, from concrete and alabaster furniture, to bronze vases and crystal chalices, give the rooms a sense of material gravity. Their presence emphasizes volume and permanence, qualities that resist the conventions of furniture design.
Other contributions expand the material vocabulary without disrupting the cohesion of the exhibition. Golles’ sculptures amplify texture and tactility, Bassan’s ceramic chairs introduce a sense of fragility, while Rosengaard’s minimal white paintings subtly destabilize the solidity of the space. Meanwhile, Rouge’s “Maters Matter” triptych, representing the three stages of womanhood, introduces a conceptual layer.
“Staging” highlights Gustav’s curatorial precision: objects are positioned with intent, contrasts are finely tuned, and nothing feels incidental. The exhibition’s impact lies in this measured clarity, which frames the works as part of a larger dialogue on how objects define space.
On view at Studio Oliver Gustav, Kastelsvej 18, Copenhagen, through October 11, 2025.
Photos: Courtesy of Studio Oliver Gustav
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