Lightness &
Tension
Lightness &
Tension
The Legacy of Joaquim Tereiro
in Dialogue with Lucas Simoes
5 September – 19 September
Christie’s Los Angeles
336 N Camden Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
The exhibition will be an immersive experience, where the furniture of Joaquim Tenreiro and Lucas Simões will be placed in direct dialogue—creating moments where past and present meet.
Carefully composed pairings of Tenreiro’s iconic, airy wooden designs and Simões’ sculptural, material-driven furniture will highlight the contrasts and continuities between their approaches, revealing how each artist reshapes our understanding of form, space, and structure.
Lucas Simões is a Brazilian artist whose work challenges the limits of form, material, and perception.
Born in 1980, Simões has gained international recognition for his sculptural and architectural explorations, often deconstructing and layering materials such as metal, concrete and paper to create dynamic, multidimensional pieces. His work is deeply rooted in process and materiality, reflecting an ongoing dialogue between structure, transparency, and void.
In addition to his acclaimed artistic practice, Simões has expanded his vision into furniture design, creating a collection that embodies the same conceptual and material rigor seen in his artworks. His furniture pieces, like his sculptures, explore balance, tension, and the interplay of contrasting materials, resulting in functional works that feel like extensions of his artistic investigations.
Joaquim Tenreiro was a visionary designer and craftsman, widely regarded as the father of modern Brazilian furniture. Born in Portugal in 1906, he emigrated to Brazil, where he revolutionized design by blending European woodworking traditions with the organic forms, materials, and sensibilities of his adopted country.
In the 1940s and 1950s, Tenreiro introduced a new aesthetic that rejected the heavy colonial styles of the past in favor of lightness, functionality, and elegance. His groundbreaking pieces, crafted from native Brazilian woods such as jacaranda, imbuia, and peroba, showcased his deep understanding of materiality and structure.
His iconic works, including the Poltrona Leve (Light Armchair) and the Cadeira deTrês Pés (Three-Legged Chair), embody a poetic balance between modernist principles and Brazilian craftsmanship.
Tenreiro’s work was deeply influential in shaping mid-century Brazilian design, inspiring generations of artists and designers. His furniture, often made in limited quantities or as bespoke commissions, is now highly sought after by collectors and institutions worldwide.
A selection of the displayed works is available for sale, to inquire about pricing or make a purchase, please email inquiry@ulyssesdesanti.com