Concrete re-imagined as a graceful material.
To make creative products, designers often have to think outside of the box. And that’s exactly what Portland-based Neal Aronowitz does. Using the ground-breaking concrete canvas material, the designer and artist crafts captivating objects. Products sitting on the border between product design and modern art. The Concrete Canvas Series of furniture and especially the warped concrete table display the potential of this ingenious technique which opens up endless possibilities. Far from the solid, monolithic-type structure the material to mind, these creations have a fluid form and an organic character.
“I am drawn to creating handmade, sculpturally evocative forms utilizing natural materials that express dynamic movement and forces,”
Thanks to the “concrete cloth” material, Aronowitz can sculpt and shape concrete while seemingly bending it to his will via bespoke processes and techniques. By maintaining a perfect balance between the tensile strength of concrete and the right amount of “stretch” to achieve the desired aesthetic effect, the artist can ensure that these works of art also double as functional objects for everyday use.
The series features the Whorl Table and Whorl Console as well as the Todos and Enso tables. With the Whorl Table, Aronowitz created a ribbon-like design that has a graceful presence. On the surface, the pigmented cement mortar boasts a smooth finish. At the same time, the textures of the material give the table a distinctive urban character. A beautiful example of creative furniture design, the Whorl warped concrete table also comes in custom colors and finishes. Photographs© Neal Aronowitz.