Chris Wolston presents Flower Power, a series of whimsical terracotta furniture and lighting inspired by tropical flora found in Colombian mountains and forests.

During NYCxDesign 2023, The Future Perfect launched a solo exhibition featuring new work by Chris Wolston. The Medellín-based American designer is presenting Flower Power, a series of new furniture and lighting all realized in terracotta. The Flower Power collection comprises 13 sculptural chairs and benches inspired by tropical flora seen in the mountains and forests surrounding Wolston’s adopted Colombian home. The pieces feature amplified botanical elements, like exaggerated and oversized leaves and fruit, leading to their whimsical forms.

With the collection title, Wolston gives nod to the “Flower Power” phrase that American poet and Beat writer Allen Ginsberg coined in 1965 in hopes of turning war protests into peaceful events, through love, unity, and imagination. “The ‘flower power’ movement and its ideals ? universal belonging, peace, love, unity, respect ? are sentiments that I hope resonate throughout my work,” notes Wolston. ?We still see the offering of flowers as a gesture of peacemaking. Flowers are more than an olive branch ? they stop you dead in your tracks, and force you to reconsider your relationship to the world around you.”
Some of the throne-like pieces are left textured from ceramic casts of flowers, plants, and fruit that Wolston...