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Collection by Erika Heet

The 2010 LA Modernism Show

The opening night of the Los Angeles Modernism Show, held for the first time at Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport, was defined by intriguing pieces by both modern favorites and less-known—even anonymous—designers. There were happy discoveries, specifically, chairs by French designer Maria Pergay and Italian designer Gigi Radice. The 1970s made a strong showing this year, with macramé and clay sculptures mixed in with wood, chrome and steel pieces. Standouts included a Tony Duquette starburst sculpture from 1974, Le Corbusier chairs re-envisioned in concrete and rebar, and a complete 1960 prototype Holiday House trailer parked right outside. The show runs through Sunday, May 2.

Check out the sildeshow to see a few pieces that caught our eye.

View 12 Photos
Frank Gehry prototype Masonite-and-cardboard Easy Edges chairs, 1968–69. "These were so celebrated, so quickly, Gehry was afraid he would be pigeonholed as a furniture designer rather than an architect," says Sam Kaufman. "He deliberately stopped making them, and production ceased in 1974—that was it." From Sam Kaufman.
Frank Gehry prototype Masonite-and-cardboard Easy Edges chairs, 1968–69. "These were so celebrated, so quickly, Gehry was afraid he would be pigeonholed as a furniture designer rather than an architect," says Sam Kaufman. "He deliberately stopped making them, and production ceased in 1974—that was it." From Sam Kaufman.
A steel-and-leather chair by French designer Maria Pergay (born in 1930), one of only eight, before a 1970 steel chair covered in vintage Pucci fabric. From Dragonette.
A steel-and-leather chair by French designer Maria Pergay (born in 1930), one of only eight, before a 1970 steel chair covered in vintage Pucci fabric. From Dragonette.
Early 1950s vintage fabric in mint condition. From Urban Burp.
Early 1950s vintage fabric in mint condition. From Urban Burp.
Detail of a signed and stamped chest by Swedish designer Edmund Spence, 1945. From Modern Days, West Hollywood.
Detail of a signed and stamped chest by Swedish designer Edmund Spence, 1945. From Modern Days, West Hollywood.
Reform Gallery dedicated much of their show space to Paul Tuttle, who studied architecture at Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesen West and was best known for his 1960s Santa Barbara home designs. He created the Z Chair in 1965. From Reform Gallery.
Reform Gallery dedicated much of their show space to Paul Tuttle, who studied architecture at Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesen West and was best known for his 1960s Santa Barbara home designs. He created the Z Chair in 1965. From Reform Gallery.
An installation with 1970s clay sculptures from Studio One 11.
An installation with 1970s clay sculptures from Studio One 11.
The circa 1950 Arianna chair, by Italian designer Gigi Radice for Renzo Minotti, of bent plywood over steel and covered in a Turkish terry chenille intended to closely resemble the original fabric. From Downtown.
The circa 1950 Arianna chair, by Italian designer Gigi Radice for Renzo Minotti, of bent plywood over steel and covered in a Turkish terry chenille intended to closely resemble the original fabric. From Downtown.
Primal Son, a 1974 brass, plastic and mirror sculpture made by Tony Duquette for a Pasadena estate. From Fat Chance.
Primal Son, a 1974 brass, plastic and mirror sculpture made by Tony Duquette for a Pasadena estate. From Fat Chance.
Bicycle Race, a 1949 oil on canvas by painter G. Maurice Cloud, who was born in 1909, attended the Beaux-Arts Academy in Paris and worked in the architect René Crevel's studio. From Jeffrey Winter.
Bicycle Race, a 1949 oil on canvas by painter G. Maurice Cloud, who was born in 1909, attended the Beaux-Arts Academy in Paris and worked in the architect René Crevel's studio. From Jeffrey Winter.
A late-1960s spiral stair designed by an aeronautical engineer to lead passengers to the bar inside a 747. From Off the Wall Antiques.
A late-1960s spiral stair designed by an aeronautical engineer to lead passengers to the bar inside a 747. From Off the Wall Antiques.
Referred to as a punk appropriation of Le Corbusier's iconic LC-2 chair, Stefan Zwicky's Grand Comfort Sans Comfort chair was made in 1980 from strictly conceptually pleasing concrete and rebar. From Los Angeles Modern Auctions.
Referred to as a punk appropriation of Le Corbusier's iconic LC-2 chair, Stefan Zwicky's Grand Comfort Sans Comfort chair was made in 1980 from strictly conceptually pleasing concrete and rebar. From Los Angeles Modern Auctions.