Joaquim Tenreiro

Joaquim Tenreiro, Masterworks, continues Carpenters Workshop Gallery’s explorative programming of historic collectable design, expanding the gallery’s offering to complement its contemporary focus.  

As seen in previous exhibitions, such as the acclaimed Zanine Caldas Denuncia retrospective in Paris earlier this year, Carpenters Workshop Gallery have built an extensive collection of historic Brazilian design centred on key artists such as Zanine Caldas, Joaquim Tenreiro, Giuseppe Scapinelli, and Carlo Hauner & Martin Eisler. 

At the heart of Tenreiro’s creations lies his profound understanding of the inherent properties of wood, and he was among the first to make the most of Brazil’s abundant varieties of hardwoods in his hand-crafted designs. This knowledge served as the cornerstone of his work, enabling him to craft artworks that not only liberated the beauty of the material but also enhanced its functionality. 

 The collection mirrors the gallery’s priorities, with a focus on masterpiece level artworks and artworks with exceptional provenance. The artworks in this exhibition are mostly bespoke and commissioned pieces, often by actors and writers, or for the homes of the newly enriched Brazilian elite, sourced by the gallery from collections rarely seen in public over the past decades. 

 The exhibition will later travel from Carpenters Workshop Gallery Paris to Ladbroke Hall in London, bringing the exceptional collection to a further audience.