Daniel Arsham is the sort of creative who flies in the face of pigeonholes. Over two decades, the New York-based artist has gained meteoric global attention through a rule-bending blend of architecture, art, design, performance, sculpture and satire.
Arsham’s inimitable breed of futurism is alluring yet apocalyptic, prophetic yet playful. From Pokémon to Porsche, Pharrell Williams’ keyboard to Wallpaper’s 25th-anniversary cover, little has escaped Arsham’s divine erosions.
His sculptural work shows how manmade fragility can collide with the tenacity of geological material. It imagines a future too close for comfort: when humanity’s turbo-charged industrial and technological world implodes in the wake of digital dematerialisation.
Beyond institutional and gallery shows, his prolific output has involved collaborations with an eclectic mix of brands (among them Tiffany’s, Heinz, Adidas, Rimowa, and Dior), alongside ambitious spatial interventions under Snarkitecture, the collaborative design studio he co-founded with Alex Mustonen.
On Arsham’s characteristically full agenda is a carte blanche at Marseille’s MAMO Cité Radieuse Arts Center, upcoming solo shows at Perrotin Tokyo and Yorkshire Sculpture Park, as well as the opening of the artist’s new exhibition space in Bridgehampton.
At home with Daniel Arsham
Wallpaper*: Where are you right now?
Daniel Arsham: I am currently in my studio in New York preparing for the opening of my newest exhibition at Perrotin Tokyo (from 27 August), entitled: ‘31st Century Still Lifes’.
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W*: Where and when are you most productive?
DA: My office at home or in the studio, generally with music playing and lots of visual inspirations in front of me. For example, in my studio many works are hanging from the ceiling or on the walls, there’s lots of movement everywhere.
Top: Arsham sits by his Snarkitecture-designed pool at his home on Long Island. Above: exterior view of his house designed by architect Norman Jaffe
W*: What’s the last thing you watched?
DA: The latest Star Wars series, The Mandalorian.
W*: What do you love about intersections and the exchange between creative disciplines?
DA: I love the possibility for nuance when things you might not first consider to be paired are blended or in collaboration with one another.
Top: a page from Arsham's notebook. 'I take notes because I need constant reminders', he says. Above: photo from Arsham's recent travel in Mykonos, where he opened a show at Simple Gallery in July 2022.
W*: Who is your dream collaborator?
DA: I’ve been lucky enough to work with several of my dream collaborators, however, it would be incredible to work with Apple.
W*: How do you switch off?
DA: I am quite busy, there’s not much time to switch off. Finding moments of calm or moments of inspiration during travel is generally how I relax.
W*: What one piece of advice would you give to the next generation?
DA: Don’t let discouragement stop you from trying and failing, over and over.
Arsham's son is pictured inside his Long Island home
Arsham's Landrover
Interior view of Arsham's home, designed by architect Norman Jaffe
Arsham’s pool, designed by his collaborative practice, Snarkitecture
Objects inside the artist's Long Island home.
Roof installation from exhibition: ’Le Modulor du Basketball’ by Daniel Arsham at MAMO Centre d’art de la Cité Radieuse, Marseille
INFORMATION
’Le Modulor du Basketball ’at MAMO Centre d’art de la Cité Radieuse, Marseille runs until 25 September. mamo.fr
’31st Century Still Lifes’, 27 August - 15 October 2022 at Perrotin New York. perrotin.com
’Relics in the Landscape’, from 1 October, Yorkshire Sculpture Park. ysp.org.uk
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