The functional objects from Local Minima are not quite design and not quite art; they exist somewhere in the haze between those labels. Their materials are ragtag or unconventionally aesthetic. Sometimes their materials naturally occur in cities or in homes, and sometimes they naturally occur in forests. Sometimes their materials are new, and sometimes they are disused or ‘past their prime.’ The objects are approachable and accessible. They’re objects with personality, objects that appear to have ‘a past.’ They’re a little rough around the edges, but can gracefully navigate various social milieu with ease. They are objects with pathos. And ultimately, they are silent companions with us on our long march towards the darkness ahead.

The studio was founded in 2023 by Brian Clifton, and is based in Dutch Kills, Queens, NYC.