Functional Aesthetics: Contemporary Art in Use
Curated by Raluca Anchidin
March 10 – March 28, 2026
Opening Reception:
Thursday, March 12, 6 – 8 PM
Atlantic Gallery is pleased to present Functional Aesthetics: Contemporary Art in Use, curated by Raluca Anchidin, on view March 10–28, 2026. An opening reception for the artists will be held on Thursday, March 12 from 6 to 8 PM. In addition to the reception, the gallery will host a one-day Market Meets Salon event on Saturday, March 14, from 1 to 5 PM.
Functional Aesthetics: Contemporary Art in Use brings together inventive, hand-made, and uniquely designed works that expand the definition of functionality in contemporary art and everyday life. It explores the intersection of art, craft, and design: pottery that transforms into feel-good art, wearables that double as sculpture, furniture and light fixtures that merge aesthetic experimentation with everyday use.
With more than 50 artists participating, the show becomes a collective statement: art does not need to hang at a distance to be meaningful. It can sit beside us, illuminate our evenings, hold our coffee, frame our bodies.
Each work asks: What does it mean for art to be used?
Functional Aesthetics celebrates objects that refuse to choose between beauty and utility. What connects them is not a single style or material, but a shared belief that art can exist within daily life. Regular interaction changes how we experience these objects; they become companions rather than decorations.
The juror and curator, Raluca Anchidin will award one artist the prize of Feature on the Atlantic Gallery website and in the gallery newsletter, plus a one-week social media takeover of the Atlantic Gallery Instagram account, at a future date.
Market Meets Salon
The Saturday afternoon event is designed to bring the artworks to life, turning the gallery into a living space shaped by the work itself. Visitors will be invited to converse with participating artists, explore the works, and connect with them — drinking from a ceramic cup, trying on jewelry, or sitting on a piece of furniture before making a purchase.
The program affirms that creativity is accessible to everyone and celebrates the vibrancy of functional art as both an autonomous artistic practice and a form of daily experience.
A $5 donation is required to attend. Get Tickets
Juror/Curator: Raluca Anchidin
Raluca Anchidin is a Romanian-born art curator and advisor. In NYC, she curated numerous exhibitions that fostered community and cross-disciplinary collaboration, including “Interstices” [Margaret Vega’s solo show at Atlantic Gallery in Chelsea], ENCHANTED QUEENSDOM [part of the LIC Arts Open Festival], (Surprise!) Bday Party [at Brooklyn Art Cave] and A Love Letter to New York City [Vital Art].
Anchidin also founded the “Sunnyside Art Walk” series, engaging the Queens neighborhood in exploring and supporting the local arts. In 2025, she launched her gallery, ankydyn gallery, dedicated to showcasing emerging and mid-career contemporary artists online – with an in-person debut at Art Basel Week in Miami.
Anchidin transitioned to the cultural sector after a ten-year career in B2B advertising and digital media. Her expertise includes brand positioning, audience engagement, event production, and strategic partnerships. She holds a Master’s in Media and Communications from Brunel University, UK.
Atlantic Gallery, committed to supporting creative autonomy and excellence, is an artist-run gallery representing a select group of artists who cooperatively own and manage it. The gallery features the work of artist members, as well as the work of other artists, in solo, group and invitational exhibitions. Its innovative programing creates a forum where both participating artists and the public provide mutual support and inspiration. Founded by painters and printmakers in 1974, Atlantic Gallery migrated from Brooklyn to SoHo in 1979 and to Manhattan’s Chelsea gallery district in 2007, having added photographers and sculptors to its roster of artists. In 2012, the Gallery moved to its current location in the historic Landmark Arts Building, home to many art galleries, and half a block from the High Line.
Atlantic Gallery | 548 West 28th St, Suite 540 | New York, NY 10001 | 212.219.3183 | www.atlanticgallery.org| info@atlanticgallery.org | Gallery Hours: Tues – Sat 12:00pm – 6:00pm