ATRA instills its cofounders’ Swedish-Mexican heritage in it’s first New York show

Form & Process

By Gabrielle Golenda • Originally published as an Online Feature
ATRA form&process

After opening two galleries this year in Mexico City and San Francisco, multi-disciplinary studio ATRA makes its East Coast debut with their first solo show in New York City. Titled Form & Process, the exhibition showcases the works of  Swedish-Mexican cofounders Alexander and Andreas Diaz Andersson, alongside upcoming designers Bogus Studio, Jose Balmaceda, Ann Edholm, and Jose Vera Matos. The showcase is on view at Tuleste Factory through January 2020—by appointment only.

ALA Chair ATRA
Featuring a completely black anatomy, the ALA Chair is fashioned in mahogany. A tufted leather cushion rests small in stature on the chair's supporting slates. (Courtesy ATRA)

ATRA
ATRA's sumptuous materials contrast with both soft and hard textures. Here, the Dino Sofa's golden velvet upholstery contrasts with a sculptural steel and marble table. (Courtesy ATRA)

Pairing silk-screened and embroidered canvases by Andreas with furnishings by Alexander, the brothers create a dialogue between art and design. Here, an experimental study of material and form ensues a dichotomous blend of their Swedish and Mexican lineages: warm woods and sleek lines, characteristic of Scandinavian design, combine with dark stains and leather distinctive of furniture produced in Mexico during the mid-20th-century

ATRA Baby Beluga Chair and Sofa
In the background, the alpaca-covered Oberon Sofa is pared with a trio of marble nesting tables. In the foreground are faux pony hair upholstered Baby Beluga chairs that were also shown at ATRA's Design Miami booth. (Courtesy ATRA)

Based in Mexico City’s Santa Maria La Ribera neighborhood, the studio sources materials locally and adapts vernacular craft techniques within contemporary execution. ATRA pairs tradition with new techniques using traditional making methods like weaving with regional materials like mahogany. The result? A pleasantly unexpected process that spawns curious forms. Large in scale and often fabricated using unusual textures, the duo’s furnishings and artworks possess a tactile yet luxurious sensibility. This approach is perhaps the reasoning behind the title of the exhibition, Form & Process.

Header image: ATRA’s exhibition, Form&Process, features various large scale wall-hung works by Andreas Diaz Andersson. Each follows the same stylistic aesthetic: vibrant silk-screened patches of color and linear threaded motifs embroidered meticulously atop canvases. (Courtesy ATRA)

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