All Photos By Gail

François Arnal (1924 – 2012) was a multidisciplinary French artist who was primarily known as a painter and sculptor. In 1968 he set up Atelier A (Workshop A) to publicize the works of furniture designers. I recently popped into art furniture gallery Demisch Denant on  West 12th Street and was thrilled to find that they had two of Arnal’s most iconic peices on display! Let’s take a closer look.

Z Chair (1970)

Arnal’s Serie Fil (Wire Series) consists of various furniture designs in bent-to-shape chromed metal. His minimalist Z Chair is one of his most popular designs from the series. A vintage Z Chair in good condition can sell for around $1800.

The Serie Fil Multi-Function Table  features two chromed triangular wire bases and a glass table top. The table can be configured as a console (desk, show here) at a height of  28-inches, or as a low table (coffee) table standing 15 inches off the ground. Very cool!

In 1975, François Arnal  returned to painting and sculpture and also began writing novels and plays. He died in Paris in 2012.

Photographed in Demisch Danant in NYC.