Aaron Poritz Looks to Woodlands of His Childhood for Latest Furniture Collection

Artist Aaron Portiz is showing a new collection at New York’s Cristina Grajales Gallery titled “Big Woods”. Across the collection, forms are organic, and scale is impressive. The designer has employed a number of techniques, from hand carving, to charring, and stack lamination. The woods he has chosen vary, too: “Inseperable” sees a mirror and dressing table carved from ash, while a more rugged-looking stool named “Arm” has made use of white oak.

“[It is a] sculptural paean to the woodlands of his youth,” said Grajales. “Aaron has produced a visual language all his own, evocative of body, plant, and landscape. Some of the pieces are supremely sensuous and sophisticated, while others are surprisingly raw and naïve. Together they reveal the full panoply of wood’s potential for expression.”

When Aaron Poritz was a child, he would spend hours exploring the vast woodlands surrounding his home in Leverett, a small town in the Pioneer Valley of northern Massachusetts. He recalls the feeling of being amongst trees as spending time with “companions” – something that later inspired him to go on and train to be a woodworker.

Later, having become disillusioned with the craftsperson career path, Poritz underwent his architectural training at the California College of the Arts. But eventually, that too left him feeling unfulfilled. A subsequent trip to Nicaragua is when his passion returned. Spending time in the jungle sparked his creativity, and he went on to design the 20-piece collection that was produced by local craftsmen and inspired by both the Danish aesthetic and the American mid-century modern master, Wharton Esherick.

Big Woods is on view at Cristina Grajales Gallery until April 21.

Cristina Grajales
50 Vestry Street
New York, NY 10013

Other newly launched collections include the “T Shelves”, designed by Milan-based studio Formafantasma for Swedish brand Hem.