"Good design means that anything which is good by itself will go with other things," said iconic Danish furniture designer Jens Risom (age 97). The exhibition, “The Answer is Risom,” chronicles the furniture designer’s 70-year career, beginning with his first furniture designs for Knoll in 1941.

Jens Risom

“Risom made his mark on the design world with his signature chairs, whose simple and elegant design incorporated surplus parachute straps into a birch frame and lead to the development of the Jen Risom Collection, which was featured in the company's first catalog,” said a representative for the Silvermine Arts Center in New Canaan, Connecticut, where the exhibit is on display. “Throughout the decades, Risom's work has continued to reflect our human need for warmth, beauty and simplicity.”

In the 1960's, Risom was recognized alongside Charles Eames and Harry Bertoia as a designers who was "revolutionizing furniture in America." Examples of his designs are found in many major institutions including the Brooklyn Museum, Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum, The Museum of Modern Art, the Rhode Island School of Design Museum and the Yale University Art Gallery.

Exhibition of Risom's work

A longtime resident of New Canaan, Risom is a trustee of the Rhode Island School of Design and was knighted by Queen Margrethe of Denmark in 1996.

Risom and co-curators Laura Einstein and Jeffrey Mueller will host an "Artist Talk" and guided tour of the exhibition tomorrow, February 4, at 6:00 p.m.

“The Answer is Risom” will be on display through February 16 at 1037 Silvermine Road. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.