EDGE

Elena Manferdini is the recipient of the 2019 ICON Award. With a body of work that spans art, architecture, exhibitions, and industrial design, her eponymous atelier has created work on over three continents. She refuses to be defined by meer métier and continues fearlessly to adventure further on her creative path. Her work is as complex as the artist behind it and characterized by interplay, complexity, and diversity. She defies definition and continues to push the boundaries of multiple design disciplines.

Atelier Manferdini’s recent architectural projects include the Cabinet of Wonders entry gate at the La Peer Hotel in West Hollywood, the Kaidda Center for Science and Design in Dongguan, China, and the colorful and iconic Mei Mei Lou Renovation in Chinatown, DTLA Design projects include a special limited edition collection of rugs with Urban Fabric Rugs and numerous collaborations with the iconic Italian design brand Alessi.

Elena has also explored fashion design collaborations, having created a line of custom design textiles and clothing produced by Bella Tessuti for the A+D Museum Show in 2012 as well as a collection for MAK Center Fashion Week at the Schindler House called Clad Cut which explored the sensuality associated with revealing and concealing the body.•~Among her many accolades, Elena received a Graham Award for architecture, the 2013 ACADIA Innovative Research Award of Excellence, and was selected as a recipient for the Educator of the Year presidential award given by the AIA Los Angeles. In 2011, she was one of the recipients of the prestigious annual grants from the United States Artists (USA) in the category of architecture and design. Elena currently teaches at the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) where she is the Graduate Programs Chair She was one of three SCI-Arc faculty selected to show at the Chicago Bienniale in 2017. CREDIT ?

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Uri Davillier 2019 EDGE

Meyghan Hill 2019 EDGE

This designer breaks all preconceived notions about glass.

NEPTUNE GLASSWORKS

With a background in both Engineering and Fine Arts, Uri Davillier began Neptune Glassworks in 2000 with the goal of building a brand that exemplifies thoughtful design and meticulous attention to detail. Trained in glass, ceramics, and sculpture, Uri has honed his craft over the last decade and continues to produce both functional designs, as well as sculptural pieces. From some of his larger sculptural pieces which can be seen in restaurants like Otium to customized pieces that grace some of LA’s most notable homes, to drinkware that anyone can possess, Neptune Glassworks has elevated a timeless and ubiquitous material into a subtle and sublime fine art.

Her work is unapologetically sultry and unbreakable. And so she.

Everyone knows Meyghan Hill, even if they’ve never seen her face. She’s the quintessential archetype of a woman, once hurt, who transforms something negative into a positive re-awakening But this is no Hallmark Channel afternoon special. This model-turned-welder has built a provocative brand for herself that draws strength from her femininity and gives her creative license to explore. Her bespoke pieces blend marble with leather and brass to create something sublime, strong, and in some cases, a bit naughty with hints of S&M and sexual undertones. Her work is compelling, walking the fine line between strength and fragility For this next phase of (wh)OREHAuS STUDIOS, Hill is ready to show her face And she’s only just begun

Kenesha Sneed 2019 EDGE

After studying motion graphics at Otis College of Art and Design & graduating in 2009, Kenesha has since worked as Art Director and multidisciplinary artist. Her design studio Tactile Matter translates concepts from her design background and highlights the nuances of representation through her creative lens Currently, Kenesha works from her Altadena studio which is comprised of pixels, clay, paint, coconut oil and black girl magic.

This multi-hyphenate defies definition.

Eric Trine 2019 EDGE

Exuberance and playful abandon characterize his work.

Eric Trine is a product designer whose brand, Amigo Modern, is well-known for its energetic take on a style he calls California modern. When asked to describe his aesthetic, he frames it with a simple question: What if Charles Eames, Buckminster Fuller, and David Hockney were surfing buddies?

Part of an emerging Long Beach renaissance, Trine’s work is firmly rooted in the fundamentals of modern design but with a level of playfulness of a designer who doesn’t approach his craft through a clinical lens. Amigo Modern’s pieces can be found in stores, restaurants, hotels, coffee shops, and homes across California and beyond Trine just showed his work as part of MADE at the Architectural Digest Show and will be creating an installation for the EDGE Group Show.

He studied art and sculpture as an undergrad at Biola University and earned his MFA from Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland where he discovered that he was more interested in practical objects versus pieces in a museum or gallery.

For this Southern California-born and raised artist, it’s all about texture.

Cindy Hsu Zell 2019 EDGE

Cindy Hsu Zell is an artist whose work is a study on the influence of gravity in composition She studied animation and sculpture at the University of Southern California and creates large scale fiber wall art made from sustainably-sourced natural fibers, wood, and metal Known for textural sculptures that are both minimal and textural, she developed her own technique for spinning and dyeing rope, which begins with her stringing each thread from one end of the studio to the other, sometimes hundreds or thousands of times When her pieces go to their forever homes, she imagines people brushing their sculptures and she derives such enjoyment from the tactile connection that she shares with her collectors She also runs a much-adored jewelry line for sensitive ears called WKNDLA.

Design Supper Club An Itinerant Dinner Party Series Taking Guests Home with LA’s most notable architects and designers.

Assembledge+ x Laurel Hills House June 22 - 7pm to 10pm

INTRO/LA

Initiated in 2013 and curated by Small Office, the INTRO series invites a select group of designers and brands to present their work in a non-traditional format that prizes intimacy over scale. Eschewing the conventions of the trade show, INTRO is arranged as a holistic design-space, integrating a diverse series of installations into a cohesive interior. The exhibition provides a platform for designers to engage with peers and public alike, resulting in a sampling of forms and production processes and acting as a vernacular gauge of the industry itself.

ON THE EDGE

A special group exhibition featuring new work by the 2019 EDGE Award recipients: Cindy Hsu Zell, Eric Trine (Amigo Modern), Kenesha Sneed (Tactile Matter), Meyghan Hill (wh)ORE HAÜS STUDIOS), Uri Davillier (Neptune Glassworks).

EPICENE

2019 EDGE Award Recipients Meyghan Hill of (wh)ORE HäUS STUDIOS and Uri Davillier of Neptune Glassworks co-curate a special gallery experience showcasing new original pieces as well as a few surprises pulling from their design community.