Light makes all the difference for Alara Alkan. The New York maker likes to lean into the different effects of finishes depending on how sunlight hits them. “Materiality and lightness are two common themes that inspire my work,” she tells Business of Home. “Weathered materials in particular can change appearance throughout the day.
Growing up in central Turkey, she was surrounded by ancient ruins, which sparked an early interest in natural patinas, and ultimately, design. “I became fascinated with nature’s ability to alter our material world through exposure to the elements,” she says.
Alkan moved to the States to study furniture design at the Rhode Island School of Design and from that experience gleaned skills from woodworking to metalsmithing. “I fell in love with the [creative] process,” she says. “There is something humbling about furniture making.”
In 2022, she launched her namesake brand after showcasing her work at a group exhibition at Alcova during Milan Design Week. The show, called “This Is America,” featured Alkan’s Midsummer design. Crafted in collaboration with New York designer Stefan Di Leo, the mirrored folding screen was adorned in wood embellishments and built-in floor lamps. “My mission is to explore materials in as many states as possible, while testing different techniques for unique outcomes,” she says.
Though her designs are often distinct in form, raw materials take center stage. “I strive to create pieces that don’t steal attention from the materials they’re made of,” she says. “Working with wood is an ongoing negotiation, especially if you are trying to stay true to its nature.”
Practicality also plays an important role in her work. Before fabricating a piece, the maker creates early prototypes for her own home, so she can approach the design in a tangible way. “This can involve full-scale paper models taped onto my walls, or whimsical structures made from stacked bowls and found objects resembling a pillow fort,” she explains. “These prototypes allow me to interact with the piece, understand its functionality and see how it fits within different spaces.”
This summer, she completed Colony’s second annual residency, and the eight-month intensive program resulted in her first cohesive furniture collection. The series, named Temporal Tides, is available exclusively through the gallery and offers four sculptural hardwood furnishings, including a cabinet with sandblasted Douglas fir panels, and a minimalist, bleached ash table lamp dressed in a slanted linen shade. “The collection explores the boundary between fragility and strength,” says Alkan. “Defined by tapered proportions and monolith forms, delicate details convey a sense of lightness without compromising sculptural form—prompting each viewer to contemplate the unpredictable nature of material.”
Looking ahead, Alkan wants to build on the momentum from her Temporal Tides collection and plans to introduce new furniture designs into the line this fall. “I will continue to utilize craft techniques to reveal the inherent beauty of organic materials, while looking to natural elements—tides, wind and sunlight—for inspiration.”
If you want to learn more about Alara Alkan, visit her website or Instagram.
