THE HAAS BROTHERS
I SAW DESIGN, AND ART OPENED UP MY EYES, I SAW DESIGN

The Haas Brothers masterful use and range of materials spans brass, bronze, porcelain, fur, highly technical resins, and polyurethane. The Los Angeles based duo create their works of art at their design and fabrication studio located in the Echo Park neighborhood. The brothers' signature Micro Beasts and furry furniture combine metallic and animal fur to create personality driven works. Each process of design within the Accretion and Fairy Berries works are a technical feat of modern ceramics production, creating biomorphic sculptures through intricate layering, texturing and pigmentation.

"We are so happy to have the opportunity to present our upcoming exhibition in Charlotte and our first show in the Southeast. It's easy to get wrapped up in the bubble of the art and design world and we are excited to present ourselves and work to the rest of the country outside of LA and New York. There is something really beautiful about a community and audience entering your space from a place of joy and enthusiasm about discovering your art, rather than of criticism. We instantly connected with the vision of Chandra and the team at SOCO Gallery," says Simon and Nikolai Haas.

"I think the title of this show really represents our career trajectory and how our body of work has transformed from design into art. We wanted to showcase the full range of our work and introduce a new audience to the hallmarks of our studio and foundation in textiles and ceramics. The exhibition includes elements from both worlds with our furniture, but also in our completely non-functional artworks."

I Saw Design, and Art Opened Up My Eyes, I Saw Design, will open with a public reception on Wednesday, November 13th from 6-8 PM, along with a public artist talk at Charlotte's The Mint Museum with Jen Edwards, Chief Curator of Contemporary Art, on Friday, November 15th. The exhibition at SOCO Gallery will remain on view until January 17, 2020.

SOCO Gallery is one of the leading US contemporary art galleries in the Southeast, located in Charlotte, North Carolina. The gallery was established in 2014 by Chandra Johnson and was created as a thoughtful platform for contemporary art to be experienced, discussed and acquired. The gallery produces exhibitions and represents artists working both locally, nationally and internationally at the highest levels. Community engagement and education are central to the mission of the gallery. Each exhibition includes artist talks, book signings, and related programming. Recent exhibitions include Shara Hughes, Holly Coulis, Austin Eddy and Guy Yanai, as well as a show of new works by Clare Rojas this September.

"We are so excited to welcome The Haas Brothers to Charlotte for their first exhibition in the region. It's truly an honor to work with Niki and Simon. Their sculptures and furniture are an incredible exploration of materials and imagination and their work speaks directly to the strong history of craft, art, and design that North Carolina is famous for. We are confident they will truly be celebrated here in Charlotte and I'm really happy that SOCO Gallery will be the ones to first present their work to our community," says Chandra Johnson.

"Their show is also the perfect way to introduce design into our gallery. In 2020, during our 5 year anniversary, we will be incorporating more design into our program with new artist exhibitions, as well as in SOCO Shop. Design is something I've always personally been interested in and through many conversations with The Haas Brothers it feels like the right time to be exploring the territory where art and design come together."

The Haas Brothers (American, B. 1984)

The Haas Brothers, twin brothers Simon and Nikolai (Niki) Haas (b. 1984, Texas), experienced a creative upbringing. Starting in their early teens, they studied stone carving under their father, mastering the craft before leaving home. Since founding the Haas Brothers in 2010, they have spurned arbitrary boundaries and hierarchies creating a playful and world that merges art, fashion, film, music, and design. Their mastery and uniquely clever use of materials ranging from brass, bronze, porcelain, and fur to highly technical resins and polyurethane, matched with their insatiable curiosity and remarkable visual intelligence, sets them apart as designers.