Incollect Magazine - Issue 15

14 www.incollect.com S ofia Karakatsanis creates furniture that sits between sculpture, craft, and contemporary design. Her work is defined by restraint, precise proportions, and an exceptional understanding of wood, producing pieces that are both functional and quietly sculptural. Raised in a family that valued making by hand, she later studied furniture design, combining traditional craftsmanship with a contemporary design sensibility. Working primarily in white oak, walnut, and ash, Karakatsanis allows the character of each timber to inform the final design. Grain, texture, and natural variation remain central to every piece, creating furniture that is authentic and materially honest. Her work is distinguished by clarity and precision. Tables, chairs, and cabinets balance structural simplicity with subtle sculptural detail, while every joint and transition is carefully resolved. Ornament is reduced to a minimum, allowing proportion and material to take precedence. Traditional woodworking techniques underpin her practice, alongside a commitment to sustainable sourcing and durable construction. Designed to last for generations, her furniture offers a thoughtful alternative to disposable design. Refined Forms in Wood sofia karakatsanis Top: Resilience Chair , 2023. Solid ash, scorched, stained and lacquered, 28.5 x 27.5 x 29 inches. Bottom: Phase Side Table , 2023. Solid sycamore side table, bleached and oiled, 16.25 x 16.5 x 16.5 inches. 6 Globe Wall Squiggle, 2022. Stoneware, gold luster, glass, 26 x 34 x 3 inches. D aniel Shapiro is among a new generation of American designers expanding the possibilities of ceramics. Based in St. Louis, his work bridges furniture, lighting, and sculpture, using clay as an architectural and sculptural material. His work reflects the renewed interest in collectible design while avoiding nostalgia, producing objects that feel both timeless and contemporary. Rather than focusing on vessels, Shapiro emphasizes the sculptural qualities of clay. His work retains fingerprints, irregularities, and textured surfaces that reveal the making process, reinforcing the handmade character of each piece. Lighting has become the strongest expression of his practice. His Squiggle series, which won the Editor’s Award for Best Lighting at the 2023 International Contemporary Furniture Fair, established him as a significant new voice in design. Whether producing sconces, pendants, or table lamps, Shapiro treats light as an integral part of the object. Textured ceramic diffuses illumination into a warm, soft glow, allowing the material itself to shape the light. The same approach informs his furniture. Tables, stools, and occasional pieces combine substantial forms with carefully balanced proportions. Shapiro rejects industrial perfection in favor of variation and the unpredictability of fired clay. Each piece reflects the hand of its maker, demonstrating how craftsmanship and material can work together to produce objects of lasting character. Sculpting Light from Clay daniel shapiro