Penzai Table VI

Born in France, interior designer and design publisher Emma Donnersberg left Europe and moved to the United States in 2000 to complete her Bachelor of Arts degree at Tulane University, New Orleans. She subsequently graduated from Parsons School of Design in New York with a focus on interior design. With offices in Paris and New York City, Donnersberg has built an international clientele and has completed numerous, acclaimed interior design projects in both Europe and North America.

Donnersberg’s cohesive design vocabulary translates in her Editions Donnersberg; a comprehensive design catalogue of pieces informed by artisanal dexterity and the designer’s ongoing collaboration with artists and artisans across Europe, such as the ‘Cèpes’ series of unique ceramic stools created in collaboration with master-ceramicist Karen Swami, or Donnersberg’s long-standing collaboration with architect/designer Michel Amar. For Donnersberg’s most recent work with Amar – the ‘Canyon’ editions of stone tables - Courbet introduced the duo to the stone carvers of Ateliers Saint-Jacques. Today, the Donnersberg Editions represents a comprehensive body of work inspired by Europe’s ongoing craftsmanship traditions and the artist’s ongoing collaborations with revered artisans across Europe.

Their shared commitment to master-craftsmanship ethos and collaborative approach have brought Donnersberg and Ateliers Courbet founder Melanie Courbet together. A longstanding friend and collaborator of the gallery, Donnersberg is who brought Michel Amar’s editions to Ateliers Courbet and more recently initiated the collaboration between Courbet and master-ceramicist Karen Swami. Courbet and Donnersberg’s ongoing dialogue has resulted in the latest Donnersberg Editions’ series ‘Penzai’; a limited edition of sculptural, morpheus tables and lights that were hand-modeled and sculpted by Chilean artist Abel Carcamo under Donnersberg’s creative direction, and later cast in bronze and hand-patinated by the bronzesmiths of Fonderie Fusion — David de Gourcuff’s esteemed art foundry based in Auvergne, France.

Chilean-born sculptor Abel Cárcamo is interested in the timelessness of morphic, archetypal forms as reflected in his body of work and the traditional modeling techniques he employs. Hand-sketching and hand-modeling each piece at his Paris-based studio, Cárcamo works closely with master craftsmen and artisans to materialize his creations in various materials such as bronze, plaster and wood.

Cárcamo draws inspiration from nature as well as everyday objects. He continues to grow his artistic vocabulary and a cohesive catalogue of contemporary, sculptural pieces with sinuous yet minimalist lines.

With his first US exhibition at Courbet, the artist introduces his most recent collaboration with French designer and design publisher Emma Donnersberg in 2023. The exhibition highlights the Penzai Collection, an ongoing series of limited edition tables and lights cast in bronze by revered french art founder, David de Gourcuff. 'PENZAI' will be on view at the gallery through June 10, 2023.

Founded in 1992 by David de Gourcuff, Fonderie Fusions has grown international recognition over the past three decades for its rarefied level of expertise and the time-honored techniques its team of 35 master craftsmen continue to perpetuate. Artists and designers from around the world would involve Gourcuff and his team along the creative development process from the original work through to the casted sculpture.

Specializing in the lost-wax casting techniques, the Auvergne, France-based foundry was awarded the “Enterprise du Patrimoine Vivant” title bestowed by the French Ministry of Trade and Industry, which acknowledges an atelier’s commitment to preserving and carrying-on the ongoing cultural heritage of the country. In 2017, Fusions founder David de Gourcuff was individually awarded the Bettencourt-Schueller Foundation’s prestigious Liliane Bettencourt Prize of “L’Intelligence de la Main” –The Hands’ Intelligence —.