Chair 03 is a minimalist chair by the Providence-based artist, designer, and researcher, Samuel Aguirre.  Made from natural and recycled materials, Chair 03 uses the chair as a medium to explore how material research and fabrication can address pressing environmental issues while also drawing from traditional paper-making techniques to inform its structural fabrication.

Informed by his thorough research and lifecycle analysis of repurposed and bio-materials — including cotton, hemp, paper pulp, or even oyster and mussel shells (for versions of the chair made for outdoor use) — Aguirre has crafted an environmentally conscious, and sculptural piece of furniture. 

Characterized by thick, organic lines that form a distinctive grid-like structure, Chair 03 balances a restrained neutral palette with the raw, tactile qualities of its natural materials. More than just an object, the piece embodies Aguirre’s broader exploration of sustainability and the inherent complexities of working with bio-based materials.

“In this work, I’ve learned that the perfect material does not exist and that compromises will always be made,” shares Aguirre. “This truth draws parallels with humanity’s pursuit of a sustainable future, our aspirations as individuals, and our struggle to live up to our ideals. Chair 03 captures this moment in history. It acknowledges this suspended state we find ourselves in: hyper aware of a troubled history, the path we’ve been set on, and our work towards a more empathic future for ourselves, our community, and our environment. This work questions the disconnect and echoes and amplifies what’s possible moving forward.”