NEW YORK, NY.- When Benoît Maire first encountered Japanese aesthetics—and the culture’s deep affection for cats—he was immediately struck by the animal’s intuitive relationship to space. A visit to the Kyoto studio of legendary potter Kanjiro Kawai proved formative, as Maire observed the way a cat (Neko in Japanese) moved freely through the workshop: climbing, resting, stretching, and inhabiting space with quiet intelligence. This moment became the catalyst for Benoît Maire: The Neko Collection, which opens with an artist’s reception at the Valerie Goodman Gallery, on April 16, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The exhibition opens to the public the next day and runs through June 19.

The exhibition presents Maire’s latest hand-fabricated furniture and sculptural works, which treats furniture as something to be engaged with actively rather than passively used. The five piece capsule collection includes: a lounge chair, a coffee table, side table, a stool and chimes and continues his long-standing inquiry into the aesthetic, material, and experiential dimensions of objects that inhabit daily life.

Known for a practice that moves fluidly between visual art, design, and philosophy, Maire approaches furniture not simply as functional form, but as a proposition shaped by observation and lived experience. “I wanted to design furniture that doesn’t aim to please through plush comfort,” Maire explains, “but through an active, invigorating comfort—something that invites movement, attention, and presence.” As gallery founder Valerie Goodman notes, Maire’s work “exists at the intersection of art and living — it asks us to think about how objects shape our bodies, our spaces, and ultimately our ideas.”

Executed primarily in aluminum, the works in the exhibition reflect Maire’s interest in economy of means, standard materials, and ecological awareness. Chairs, stools, side tables, and ancillary objects are cut from single sheets of metal, with negative spaces repurposed into complementary elements such as chimes and sculptural accents. This process-driven approach underscores Maire’s commitment to minimizing waste while allowing form to emerge from constraint.

Ceramic components made using the traditional Japanese raku technique, along with leather cushions and tassel details, introduce warmth and tactility to the industrial surfaces. These elements are produced by Maire himself, reinforcing the handmade dimension of the work and its connection to ritual, craft, and bodily experience. Several pieces incorporate subtle sound elements—chimes composed of aluminum, copper, and raku forms— which Maire has used ceremonially, including as bells to mark the beginning of public talks.

Throughout his career, Maire has returned repeatedly to the chair as both sculptural and symbolic form. “A chair signifies the absence of a body—it’s almost anthropomorphic,” he notes. This preoccupation is evident in The Neko Collection, where chairs and stools function as presences within space, activating the gallery environment while inviting contemplation of how bodies relate to objects.

The exhibition also reflects Maire’s broader artistic practice, which encompasses writing, lectures, installation, painting, and scenography. His work for international institutions and brands — including large-scale installations for Hermès—has further informed his sensitivity to space, narrative, and the choreography of objects. For The Neko Collection, Maire has extended this sensibility into the presentation itself, collaborating closely on the visual documentation and installation to create a cohesive, lived-in aesthetic.

Benoît Maire

48-year-old Benoît Maire is a French designer whose interdisciplinary practice spans sculpture, furniture, installation, painting, writing, and curatorial projects. Grounded in philosophy and conceptual thought, his work explores how objects, images, and environments shape perception and lived experience. Maire has exhibited internationally and has created installations for major institutions including the Centre Pompidou in Paris, Villa Medici in Rome, the New National Museum of Monaco, as well as prestigious brands such as Hermès.

Valerie Goodman Gallery

Founded in 2010, the Valerie Goodman Gallery is dedicated to introducing contemporary furniture and design as collectible works shaped by the individual vision of each designer. The gallery presents furniture and objects by living designers whose practices blur the boundaries between fine art and function, emphasizing hand craftsmanship, material intelligence, and limited-edition production. Through a carefully curated program, the gallery has become a destination for interior designers and collectors seeking distinctive, conceptually rigorous design grounded in artistic intent.

In addition to her long-standing collaboration with Jacques Jarrige, Goodman has introduced several international artists and designers including Anasthasia Millot, Cristina Salusti, Tinatin Kilaberidze, and Eric Schmitt.