Known primarily for his masterful ceramics, Danny Kaplan has now ventured boldly beyond his established vocabulary, introducing three collections that signal a dramatic expansion of his material exploration while maintaining the sculptural sensibility that defines his work. Kaplan’s thoughtful approach to palette – evident in his carefully developed ceramic glazes – serves as a throughline connecting his new ventures in metal furniture, hand-knotted rugs, and resin mirrors. What emerges is not merely a collection of objects but a cohesive vision that bridges craft traditions with contemporary design language.
“I love working with metal because it embodies the bold, masculine qualities that resonate with Art Deco designs – strong, precise, and aerodynamic. Its reflective quality is deeply satisfying, offering a luminosity that feels akin to the glazes we use on our ceramics,” says Kaplan. “With the Facet collection, my aim is to retain the sculptural integrity and meticulous quality that dene my work while exploring new design directions.”
Kaplan’s new Facet Metal Furniture Collection marks a compelling evolution in his design language, marrying sculptural artistry with the precision and strength of metal. Building on the foundation of his Facet Lighting Collection, this latest series introduces the Facet Table and Facet Chair, both deeply rooted in Art Deco inspiration yet unmistakably contemporary. The chair’s defining feature – a vibrant strip of tubing in colors like aubergine, rust, and lavender – adds a playful counterpoint to the cool geometry of polished metal surfaces. Kaplan’s craftsmanship shines through in every angle and finish, revealing his deepening exploration of form, function, and material. With Facet, Kaplan not only expands his repertoire but reaffirms his commitment to timeless design with a fresh, modern edge.
In his Collage Rug Collection, the designs began as spontaneous notebook sketches, where the dark lines of his pen became defining elements in the final pieces. Working with textiles expert Esha Ahmed, these drawings underwent a transformation – first digitized, then rendered in Nepal through traditional hand-knotting techniques.
In his Divot Mirror collaboration with Joseph Algieri, the pieces bridge Kaplan’s ceramic expertise with new material possibilities. By throwing the original form on a wheel before casting it in resin, Kaplan maintains the tactile integrity of his ceramic work while gaining access to brighter, more saturated colors not typically accessible through the studio’s glaze. The resulting objects capture every detail of the clay’s surface texture while introducing a vibrant color range that pushes beyond ceramic constraints. “It’s a mirror, yes,” says Kaplan, “but it’s also an object in its own right – more like a piece of art. We didn’t want something that simply hangs on the wall, but something that inhabits the space.”
For more information on Danny Kaplan’s new collection, visit dannykaplanstudio.com.
Photography by Matthew Gordon, William Jess Laird, and Dan Allegretto.
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