Frank Stewart & Ilkka Suppanen
Executed in PUCCI’s proprietary Plasterglass material, Suppanen’s inaugural collection, ‘Stereo Bloom’ follows a two-year collaboration with Ralph Pucci and the gallery’s in-house Master Sculptor, whose craftsmanship has transformed Suppanen’s drawings into physical reality. Bridging disciplines, the collaboration melds art, function, knowledge, and sculpting material into a meaningful collection that embodies the fusion of art and design.
The collection comprises furniture and lighting: the Rizoma table series, Cadenza pendant, Lunetta wall light, Colonna floor light, Gutta table lamp, and Giunto chair.
Ilkka Suppanen says of the works, “At the heart of the collection lies a dialogue between material and form, history and contemporary expression, and between myself and the extraordinary artisans I have had the privilege to work with. Each piece in this collection carries echoes of architectural masters who have shaped my perspective. There are structural influences from Antonio Gaudí, whose innovative engineering has always fascinated me. The inspiration drawn from Frank Lloyd Wright’s Johnson Wax Headquarters—with its essential, sculptural structure—manifests in forms that feel both architectural and intimate. It is a tribute to the conversations that have shaped my journey—from the early influence of my high school art teacher, Ms. Gallo, in 1986 during my exchange year, to the invaluable exchange of ideas with Ralph Pucci himself.”
RALPH PUCCI International announces the opening of Riffs and Rectangles, an exhibition featuring esteemed photographer Frank Stewart, coinciding with New York Art Week taking place from 7 – 14 May, 2025 and on view through summer. Frank Stewart, renowned for his evocative photographs of leading Jazz musicians, has been the lead photographer for the Wynton Marsalis Septet and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for over three decades. His long-standing association with the Savannah Music Festival has also been a significant aspect of his career. The exhibition will feature several of his iconic photographs, including Warmdaddy in the House of
Swing, New York (1996), The Bow, Modena, Italy (1996), and the celebrated Miles in the Green Room (1981), capturing Miles Davis’s return to the stage after a lengthy hiatus.
Stewart’s photographic prowess extends beyond musicians to the instruments themselves, vocalists, dancers and religious ceremonies where music plays a central role, such as God’s Trombones, Harlem, New York (2009), an annual outdoor Baptisim in the City. The exhibition also explores Stewart’s diverse interests, from Civil Rights and African culture to life in Harlem and global religious ceremonies. His early work, primarily in black and white due to the prohibitive costs of colour printing in the 1960s, contrasts with his later vibrant colour photography, benefiting from the digital revolution.
Stewart’s educational journey at The Cooper Union, under the mentorship of Roy DeCarava, and his studies with Stephen Shore and Joel Meyerowitz, have significantly influenced his work. His connections with painter Jack Whitten and collage-painter Romare Bearden have infused his photography with a painterly and abstract quality, evident in works such as Blue Car, Havana (2002) and St Patrick’s Day, Savannah, GA (2012). His recent focus on environmental catastrophes such as Katrina, Hammond B-3, Ninth Ward, New Orleans (2007), highlights the pressing issue of climate change. Stewart’s accolades include the Jazz Journalists of America Award for Career Excellence in 2017, and his role as the first photographer-in-residence at The Studio Museum in Harlem. His work is featured in major museum collections worldwide.
