Travel by Design
Design Calendar: Where to Go and What to See in August
Visit design events in São Paulo, admire Danish furniture and see the best that Seattle art galleries have to offer
As temperatures continue to rise in August, the world of design will be sizzling. Whether you love quilting, Scandinavian modern furniture or innovative architecture, your options for events are plentiful. Here are some top design-related events around the globe in August 2016 and beyond.
Even some streets and stairways in São Paulo have been spruced up by artists for the design weekend. More info ♦︎
The Festival of Quilts
What: Quilt show
Where: Birmingham, England
When: August 11 through 14
Cost: 16.50 British pounds (about $21.50)
Quilters, unite! Whether you’re a lover of traditional quilts (like the patchwork variety seen here) or more modern varieties, Europe’s largest quilting show has you covered. A celebration of quilting with more than 300 exhibitors offering essential supplies, extraordinary galleries of work by international artists and a magnificent display of more than 700 competition quilts, this is the ultimate quilting experience.
What: Quilt show
Where: Birmingham, England
When: August 11 through 14
Cost: 16.50 British pounds (about $21.50)
Quilters, unite! Whether you’re a lover of traditional quilts (like the patchwork variety seen here) or more modern varieties, Europe’s largest quilting show has you covered. A celebration of quilting with more than 300 exhibitors offering essential supplies, extraordinary galleries of work by international artists and a magnificent display of more than 700 competition quilts, this is the ultimate quilting experience.
Modern quilts like this one from the festival just might change preconceived notions about quilting. More info ♦︎
Seattle Art Fair
What: Art show
Where: Seattle
When: August 4 through 7
Cost: $20
Seattle is known for having one of the most vibrant art scenes on the West Coast, but if you don’t have the time to visit most of the city’s art galleries, consider the Seattle Art Fair a one-stop shop. More than 80 top galleries will display prized pieces from their collection over the course of the four-day event. All proceeds benefit the Seattle Art Museum.
What: Art show
Where: Seattle
When: August 4 through 7
Cost: $20
Seattle is known for having one of the most vibrant art scenes on the West Coast, but if you don’t have the time to visit most of the city’s art galleries, consider the Seattle Art Fair a one-stop shop. More than 80 top galleries will display prized pieces from their collection over the course of the four-day event. All proceeds benefit the Seattle Art Museum.
A lovely collection of colored photography from the Mariane Ibrahim Gallery will be on display at the Seattle Art Fair. More info ♦︎
North Modern
What: Furniture show
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
When: August 18 through 20
Cost: Free to the trade
If you’re a fan of Danish modern design, consider a trip to Copenhagen in August. North Modern showcases the exciting work of international talents along with the best of Scandinavian design heritage. Displaying stylish chairs (seen here) to sculptural sofas and chandeliers (next photo), the event is chock-full of the latest and greatest in Danish design. More info ♦︎
What: Furniture show
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
When: August 18 through 20
Cost: Free to the trade
If you’re a fan of Danish modern design, consider a trip to Copenhagen in August. North Modern showcases the exciting work of international talents along with the best of Scandinavian design heritage. Displaying stylish chairs (seen here) to sculptural sofas and chandeliers (next photo), the event is chock-full of the latest and greatest in Danish design. More info ♦︎
Missoni Art Colour
What: Museum exhibition
Where: Fashion and Textile Museum of Art, London
When: Through September 4
Cost: 9.90 British pounds (about $13)
Explore the creative process of Italian fashion house Missoni and the textiles of Ottavio and Rosita Missoni in the context of 20th-century fine art. The exhibition showcases more than 60 years of fashion, textiles and works that inspired the Missonis, such as this graphic painting by Nino Di Salvatore created in 1952. The exhibition celebrates a family firm that has become an international success by combining craft expertise, colorful materials and the latest design trends. More info ♦︎
What: Museum exhibition
Where: Fashion and Textile Museum of Art, London
When: Through September 4
Cost: 9.90 British pounds (about $13)
Explore the creative process of Italian fashion house Missoni and the textiles of Ottavio and Rosita Missoni in the context of 20th-century fine art. The exhibition showcases more than 60 years of fashion, textiles and works that inspired the Missonis, such as this graphic painting by Nino Di Salvatore created in 1952. The exhibition celebrates a family firm that has become an international success by combining craft expertise, colorful materials and the latest design trends. More info ♦︎
Case Work: Studies in Form, Space and Construction
What: Architecture exhibition
Where: Portland Art Museum, Oregon
When: Through September 4
Cost: $19.99
The Portland Art Museum presents the first comprehensive exhibition exploring the sculptures and drawings of Brad Cloepfil and Allied Works Architecture, the celebrated firm with offices in Portland, Oregon, and New York City. On display are 60 works made over the past 15 years, the majority of which have never been presented publicly. A counterpoint to customary building models and architectural renderings, these works are both artistic creations and a part of the investigative process that is at the heart of the firm’s practice. The model pictured was created to study the conceptual design of a museum in New York.
What: Architecture exhibition
Where: Portland Art Museum, Oregon
When: Through September 4
Cost: $19.99
The Portland Art Museum presents the first comprehensive exhibition exploring the sculptures and drawings of Brad Cloepfil and Allied Works Architecture, the celebrated firm with offices in Portland, Oregon, and New York City. On display are 60 works made over the past 15 years, the majority of which have never been presented publicly. A counterpoint to customary building models and architectural renderings, these works are both artistic creations and a part of the investigative process that is at the heart of the firm’s practice. The model pictured was created to study the conceptual design of a museum in New York.
This conceptual study links three projects (the Ohio Veterans Memorial and Museum, the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis and the Museum of Arts and Design), all designed by Allied Works Architecture, into one model. More info ♦︎
Roberto Burle Marx: Brazilian Modernist
What: Museum exhibition
Where: The Jewish Museum, New York City
When: Through September 18
Cost: $15
With the Olympics just around the corner, Brazil is on the minds of a lot of people. Landscape architect and artist Roberto Burle Marx was one of the most prominent innovators in his field and is famous for designing the iconic seaside pavements on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach. Pictured here is the architect in his studio.
What: Museum exhibition
Where: The Jewish Museum, New York City
When: Through September 18
Cost: $15
With the Olympics just around the corner, Brazil is on the minds of a lot of people. Landscape architect and artist Roberto Burle Marx was one of the most prominent innovators in his field and is famous for designing the iconic seaside pavements on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach. Pictured here is the architect in his studio.
Here’s a great example of some of the stunning tilework created by Burle Marx. In the exhibition at the Jewish Museum, seven artists born after 1950 with ties to Latin America provide a sampling of his influence. After its presentation in New York, the exhibition will travel to Berlin and Rio de Janeiro. More info ♦︎
Artek and the Aaltos: Creating a Modern World
What: Design exhibit
Where: Bard Graduate Center Gallery, New York City
When: Through September 25
Cost: $7
This is the first exhibit in the U.S. to examine Artek, a pioneering Finnish design company founded in 1935, and the first to focus on the two architect cofounders, Alvar Aalto and Aino Aalto. Approximately 200 works will be featured — many never before on public view — including architectural drawings, furniture (like the modern chair covered in zebra-print fabric seen here), paintings, lighting and glassware (like the yellow vase in the next photo). More info ♦︎
What: Design exhibit
Where: Bard Graduate Center Gallery, New York City
When: Through September 25
Cost: $7
This is the first exhibit in the U.S. to examine Artek, a pioneering Finnish design company founded in 1935, and the first to focus on the two architect cofounders, Alvar Aalto and Aino Aalto. Approximately 200 works will be featured — many never before on public view — including architectural drawings, furniture (like the modern chair covered in zebra-print fabric seen here), paintings, lighting and glassware (like the yellow vase in the next photo). More info ♦︎
Also
The Bauhaus: It’s All Design
What: An exhibit featuring rare and in some cases never-before-seen pieces from the fields of design, architecture, art, film and photography.
Where: Bundeskunsthalle, Bonn, Germany
When: Through August 14
Cost: 10 euros (about $11)
Masterpieces of British Silver: Highlights From the Victoria and Albert Museum
What: An exhibit that traces the history and evolution of silver made in Britain, from traditional to avant-garde pieces.
Where: Liang Yi Museum, Hong Kong
When: Through August 18
Cost: HK $200 (about $26 U.S.)
Charles and Ray Eames
What: An exhibit featuring photography, film, architecture, furniture and products created by this famous midcentury design duo.
Where: Bildmuseet, Umeå, Sweden
When: Through September 4
Cost: Free
Superstudio 50
What: A retrospective about one of the most influential architecture firms focused on Italian radical design.
Where: Maxxi — National Museum of 21st-Century Arts, Rome
When: Through September 4
Cost: 11 euros (about $12)
Design Episodes: The Modern Chair
What: An ode to a piece of furniture that has captivated the popular imagination like no other: the modern chair.
Where: The Art Institute of Chicago
When: Through September 11
Cost: $25
Chihuly in the Garden
What: Internationally acclaimed glass artist Dale Chihuly’s latest exhibition includes 20 installations set amid a garden’s natural beauty.
Where: Atlanta Botanical Garden
When: Through October 30
Cost: $21.95
Engineering Season
What: An annual celebration of the latest and greatest in innovative engineering.
Where: Victoria and Albert Museum, London
When: Through November 6
Cost: Free
Biennale Architettura 2016
What: Considered by many to be the world’s most renowned annual international architecture exhibition.
Where: Venice, Italy
When: Through November 27
Cost: 25 euros (about $28)
Dennis Oppenheim: Terrestrial Studio
What: A collection of the artist’s whimsical outdoor sculptures on display throughout 500 pristine acres.
Where: Storm King Art Center, New Windsor, New York
When: Through November 30
Cost: $15 for adults
Yayoi Kusama: Narcissus Garden
What: A landscape installation composed of 1,300 floating steel spheres drifting on a pond next to architect Philip Johnson’s famous Glass House.
Where: The Glass House, New Canaan, Connecticut
When: Through November 30
Cost: $25
W. Women in Italian Design
What: A celebration of Italian design and the creative women behind it.
Where: Triennale Design Museum, Milan
When: Through February 19, 2017
Cost: 15 euros (about $17)
The Bauhaus: It’s All Design
What: An exhibit featuring rare and in some cases never-before-seen pieces from the fields of design, architecture, art, film and photography.
Where: Bundeskunsthalle, Bonn, Germany
When: Through August 14
Cost: 10 euros (about $11)
Masterpieces of British Silver: Highlights From the Victoria and Albert Museum
What: An exhibit that traces the history and evolution of silver made in Britain, from traditional to avant-garde pieces.
Where: Liang Yi Museum, Hong Kong
When: Through August 18
Cost: HK $200 (about $26 U.S.)
Charles and Ray Eames
What: An exhibit featuring photography, film, architecture, furniture and products created by this famous midcentury design duo.
Where: Bildmuseet, Umeå, Sweden
When: Through September 4
Cost: Free
Superstudio 50
What: A retrospective about one of the most influential architecture firms focused on Italian radical design.
Where: Maxxi — National Museum of 21st-Century Arts, Rome
When: Through September 4
Cost: 11 euros (about $12)
Design Episodes: The Modern Chair
What: An ode to a piece of furniture that has captivated the popular imagination like no other: the modern chair.
Where: The Art Institute of Chicago
When: Through September 11
Cost: $25
Chihuly in the Garden
What: Internationally acclaimed glass artist Dale Chihuly’s latest exhibition includes 20 installations set amid a garden’s natural beauty.
Where: Atlanta Botanical Garden
When: Through October 30
Cost: $21.95
Engineering Season
What: An annual celebration of the latest and greatest in innovative engineering.
Where: Victoria and Albert Museum, London
When: Through November 6
Cost: Free
Biennale Architettura 2016
What: Considered by many to be the world’s most renowned annual international architecture exhibition.
Where: Venice, Italy
When: Through November 27
Cost: 25 euros (about $28)
Dennis Oppenheim: Terrestrial Studio
What: A collection of the artist’s whimsical outdoor sculptures on display throughout 500 pristine acres.
Where: Storm King Art Center, New Windsor, New York
When: Through November 30
Cost: $15 for adults
Yayoi Kusama: Narcissus Garden
What: A landscape installation composed of 1,300 floating steel spheres drifting on a pond next to architect Philip Johnson’s famous Glass House.
Where: The Glass House, New Canaan, Connecticut
When: Through November 30
Cost: $25
W. Women in Italian Design
What: A celebration of Italian design and the creative women behind it.
Where: Triennale Design Museum, Milan
When: Through February 19, 2017
Cost: 15 euros (about $17)
What: Design festival
Where: São Paulo
When: August 10 through 14
Cost: Free
If you’re planning to go to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympics, you might want to take a day or two off from the pole vault and triple jump and take the about-five-hour car ride to São Paulo for the annual design weekend there. In a Brazilian city known for its rich history of innovative architecture and furniture design, this four-day “weekend” includes more than 120 design-related events and installations (like the sky canopy seen here) scattered throughout the city.