David Kordansky Gallery is presenting "Ripple: Furniture Sculpture and Painting after 1982," an exhibition of historic works by Swiss artist John Armleder, on view from May 7 to June 13, 2026. The show focuses on Armleder's Furniture Sculpture series from the 1980s, which incorporates functional or decorative objects alongside paintings, exploring the intersection of art, design, and everyday life. Works like FS 156 (1987) and Untitled (FS) (1987) exemplify his interest in collectivity, chance, and the viewer's role in assigning meaning, influenced by experiences such as a prison stint for refusing conscription and his time on a rowing team, as well as the experimental compositions of Erik Satie and John Cage's writings on chance.
This exhibition matters because it highlights John Armleder's enduring influence on contemporary art, particularly his blurring of boundaries between fine art, furniture, and design—a practice that resonates with current trends in installation and conceptual art. By presenting works that invite viewers to draw their own associations and challenge traditional hierarchies of art objects, the show underscores Armleder's belief in collective experience and the Duchampian idea that meaning is created by the audience. It also offers a focused look at a pivotal period in his career, reinforcing his role as a key figure in post-conceptual and neo-avant-garde movements.