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England’s Chatsworth House Opens a Dynamic Exhibition with Friedman Benda

The installation juxtaposes works by Wendell Castle, Fernando Laposse, and Joris Laarman with the stately manor’s period details

By Jacqueline Terrebonne
Opulent palace interior with checkered floor, grand staircase, ornate paintings, and luxurious patterned benches.
Installation view of Joris Laarman Maker (Hexagon) benches in the Painted Hall at Chatsworth House. Photo: India Hobson; Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Chatsworth

Although Chatsworth House has stayed in the same family for 16 generations and dates to 1552, the estate doesn’t remain fixed in the past. In a collaboration with Friedman Benda, the stately British home will mount the exhibition “Mirror Mirror: Reflections on Design at Chatsworth,” featuring works by 16 artists and designers, including Joris Laarman, Wendell Castle, and Najla El Zein. 

Elegant marble-floored room with a decorative bench, statue, and ornate chandelier against a grand architectural backdrop.
A Joris Laarman Maker (Hexagon) bench in the Painted Hall at Chatsworth House. Photo: Chatsworth House Trust

Juxtapositions in materials and dialogues between artworks old and new abound, such as with 2021 Creative Mind Fernando Laposse’s agave and sisal cabinet and armchair in the opulent State Bedchamber. “Adding in new works means that your eye is drawn to the historic pieces, and you can’t help but make comparisons between them,” says Alex Hodby, a senior curator at Chatsworth. The show runs from March 18 through October 1.

See more exhibition photos below.

A pink sculpture of intertwined, elongated shapes surrounded by snow-covered ground and stone pillars in a park setting.
Installation view of Najla El Zein’s work as a part of “Mirror Mirror: Reflections on Design at Chatsworth.” Photo: India Hobson; Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Chatsworth
Person in fluffy costume standing in ornate room with classic paintings, antique furniture, and large blue vases
Installation view of Fernando Laposse’s agave and sisal cabinet in the State Bedchamber as a part of “Mirror Mirror: Reflections on Design at Chatsworth.” Photo: India Hobson; Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Chatsworth
Sculptures of whale tails emerging from a snow-covered pond surrounded by bare trees and neatly trimmed hedges in winter.
Installation view of Wendell Castle’s artwork as a part of “Mirror Mirror: Reflections on Design at Chatsworth.” Photo: India Hobson; Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Chatsworth
Elegant museum hallway with chandelier leads to a room displaying statues and a large basin in the center.
Installation view of Ini Archibong’s work as a part of “Mirror Mirror: Reflections on Design at Chatsworth.” Photo: India Hobson; Courtesy of Friedman Benda and Chatsworth

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2023 Spring Issue under the headline “History in the Making.” Subscribe to the magazine.