Home Bodies marked the gallery debut of design and furniture wunderkind Ryan Belli. Previously on view at Good Mother Gallery’s Los Angeles location during the period of March 1-27, 2025, Home Bodies featured pieces that transformed domestic objects, including chairs, lights, and benches, into stages for performance. Carefully handcrafted in his Los Angeles studio, each work invited viewers into a technicolor dreamscape.
Belli’s artistic universe is a delightful fusion of the whimsical and the functional. Making use of wood, metals, fabric, and deadstock materials, Belli innovates furniture that transcends its utilitarian roots to become expressive, sculptural forms. Take, for example, works from Home Bodies including sculptures of faces that also serve as stools, mini replicas of houses that act as shelves, or a lamp that resembles a dollop of pink cotton candy atop a wooden base. His designs— playful, surreal, and imaginative— are “intended for maximum joy,” and they never fail that purpose. They are an embodiment of the pioneering Californian design spirit— fantastical and fun, rich in color, and grounded in innovative technical processes mixing materials and forms.
The excitement surrounding the opening and month-long exhibition of Home Bodies was palpable, marking a significant milestone in Belli's career. The exhibition not only showcased his talent, but also contributed to the dynamic programming that Good Mother Gallery is known for. As Belli continues to explore new materials, shapes, and techniques, his work resonates with those seeking to infuse their environments with creativity and wonder. Home Bodies stands as a testament to the transformative power of design and the endless possibilities that arise when art and functionality intertwine.
Previously, Ryan Belli studied product design at the Art Center College of Design. He served as a fabricist (and protégé) for he Haas Brothers for seven-plus years before establishing his own burgeoning studio and practice. He has been recognized by Sight Unseen on their 2019 American Design Hot List, and has had his works curated for Phillips Auctions.
Select pieces from Home Bodies are still available for purchase. Please direct inquiries to info@goodmothergallery.com for more information.
