Carpenters Workshop Gallery occupies a two-story penthouse (19th and 20th floors) on Fifth Avenue, just a few blocks from Central Park. But it’s not just an exhibition space — Carpenters Workshop Gallery is a museum-like gallery-store specializing in so-called “functional sculpture”: furniture and objects that are both works of art and serve a utilitarian purpose, from sofas and chairs to lighting fixtures.
Such boutique, little-known venues offer a rare chance to see pieces that usually go straight into private collections and museums. And the space itself — a penthouse in a Philip Johnson–designed building with 40-foot ceilings and a bright “white cube” interior — creates an almost cathedral-like atmosphere. The gallery also features two open terraces overlooking Fifth Avenue to the north and south.
About Carpenters Workshop Gallery
Carpenters Workshop Gallery (CWG) first opened in London in 2006, then expanded to Paris in 2008, New York in 2015, and Los Angeles in 2018. The gallery’s founders, Frenchmen Julien Lombrail and Loïc Le Gaillard, aim to rethink the boundaries between art, sculpture, and design, blurring the lines between traditional artistic genres.
Interestingly, CWG not only exhibits and sells functional sculpture but also produces it. Just outside Paris, near Charles de Gaulle Airport, the gallery runs a vast workshop of about 90,000 m², where more than 25 artisans bring pieces to life — from wax and plaster prototypes to finished works in metal and parchment.
Current Exhibition: Aki + Arnaud Cooren
Until October 18, Carpenters Workshop Gallery is hosting an exhibition by design duo Aki + Arnaud Cooren, known for their calm, poetic works inspired by nature.
The centerpiece is their new Ishigaki Lamp series, which won the Créateurs Design Award in 2025. These lamps were inspired by the experience of freediving off the coast of Ishigaki Island in southern Japan. Their style blends Japanese minimalism with French refinement. Aki, born in Tokyo, studied design in Paris, where she met Arnaud — a native of northern France who had been working in contemporary art in Belgium before moving back to France.
Each Ishigaki Lamp is handcrafted in their Paris studio. A metal and carbon base supports a bamboo stem topped with a linen lampshade. The shades come in amber, coral red, verdigris, and moss-toned copper. Every bamboo stalk is unique, giving each lamp its own character.
The lamps cast light upward, projecting shadows onto the ceiling reminiscent of underwater sun reflections. The combination of fabric, light, and natural materials creates an impression of nature at play, while the coral-like weighted base symbolizes ocean depth.
Since founding their studio in 1999, Aki + Arnaud Cooren have collaborated with brands such as Shiseido, Artemide, L’Oréal, Cartier, and others.
The Takashimaya Building
Takashimaya opened on Fifth Avenue in 1958 as the first Japanese department store in the U.S., featuring an atrium and flower salon. In 1993, it was replaced by a 20-story building designed by Philip Johnson and John Burgee, clad in rare pink granite with arched windows and columns.
The department store closed in 2010. In 2014, architect David Chipperfield redesigned the lower floors, adding glass and black metal for a modern contrast. Today, Carpenters Workshop Gallery occupies the 19th and 20th floors. The penthouse, with its soaring ceilings and two terraces, is clearly visible in the photos below.
Visitor Information
Address: Carpenters Workshop Gallery / 693 Fifth Avenue
Hours: Monday–Saturday 10:00–18:00, closed Sunday
