Photos By Gail

Leave it to the Haas Brothers to turn a lamp into a conversation piece, which is certainly the case with Small Sloan (2016), a striking work by the duo  currently on view in Uncanny Valley at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD). Crafted from blown glass, aluminum tiles, and electrical lighting components, the piece blurs the line between functional lighting and contemporary sculpture.

At first glance, Small Sloan resembles a strange organism rising from the ocean floor. Its reflective aluminum body branches upward into graceful, elongated stems that support clusters of delicate blown-glass forms. When illuminated, the translucent glass catches and diffuses the light, casting shimmering reflections that ripple across the surrounding walls and giving the sculpture an almost otherworldly glow.

That fusion of fantasy and function has become a hallmark of the Haas Brothers‘ work. Twin brothers Simon and Nikolai Haas founded their Los Angeles studio in 2010 and have earned international acclaim for creating furniture, lighting, and sculptural objects that occupy the space between fine art and collectible design. Their biomorphic forms often draw inspiration from nature, marine life, and imagined ecosystems, resulting in works that feel simultaneously familiar and completely alien.

Small Sloan perfectly captures the spirit of Uncanny Valley, a mid-career exhibition featuring more than 80 works that celebrate experimentation, craftsmanship, and playful imagination. While the lamp serves a practical purpose, it refuses to be merely functional. Instead, it invites viewers to slow down and appreciate how exceptional design can transform an everyday object into a work of art.

Much more than  simple table lamp. it feels like you’re discovering a luminous life form quietly blooming in a gallery — a reminder that great design doesn’t simply illuminate a space; it sparks curiosity and wonder.

The Haas Brothers’ Uncanny Valley Runs Through August 16th, 2026 at the Museum of Arts and Design in NYC.