Ben & Aja Blanc

Ben & Aja Blanc are a US-based husband-and-wife design team known for their innovative sculptural lighting, hand poured silver art mirrors, furniture, and collectible objects for interiors. Their process celebrates meticulous craftsmanship - from mirror silvering to blown glass and hand built ceramics - alongside modern shapes, forms and functions.
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Drawing inspiration from a diverse range of natural elements, processes and historical art references, while using only the highest quality materials and techniques they meticulously hand craft a distinctive American design aesthetic that is playful yet compositionally refined. Their work has garnered attention from major publications like The New York Times, Architectural Digest, Elle DÉCOR and Vogue.

They have exhibited work in New York, L.A., San Francisco, Dallas, Miami, Paris, London, Seoul Korea, Brussels, Sydney Australia, and Suzhou, China to name a few. Their work can be found in stunning architectural spaces and major private collections around the globe. Their clientele includes renowned architects and designers such as Ken Fulk and Kelly Wearstler.

They began collaborating during their graduate studies at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where they developed a shared pursuit of beauty through form and material juxtaposition. Ben previously served as adjunct faculty at RISD where he co-led the graduate furniture program while Aja brought her background in fine arts and museum curation from Yale to the partnership.

They currently live with their two daughters in Rhode Island’s creative community, drawing inspiration from their coastal surroundings.
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Selected Exhibitions

Kingdom for a Horse Exhibition

Kingdom for a Horse

Ben & Aja Blanc
May 5 - June 15, 2022
Launch of The Goldwyn House Exhibition

Launch of The Goldwyn House

September 27 - October 20, 2022
Design Miami/ Basel 2019 Exhibition

Design Miami/ Basel 2019

Floris Wubben & Kristin Victoria Barron
June 10 - June 16, 2019

C.V.

Education – Aja Blanc

2006  MA – Art and Design Education, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI

2003  BA – Art History, The University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Education – Ben Blanc

2004  MFA – Furniture Design, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI

2001  BA – Visual Studies, Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Selected Exhibitions

2024  “Design Miami” – The Future Perfect, Miami, FL

2024  “NYC Design Week” – The Future Perfect, New York, NY

2024  “Group Exhibition” – Hollace Cluny, Toronto, Ontario, CA

2023  “Design Miami” – The Future Perfect, Miami, FL

2023  “HPIX Group Exhibition” – Seoul, KR

2023  “NYC Design Week” – The Future Perfect, New York, NY

2022  “Kingdom for a Horse” – The Future Perfect, New York, NY

2022 “Design Miami” – The Future Perfect, Miami, FL

2021  “Group Exhibition” – Amorphie Uni, Suzhou, CN

2020  “Provenanced” – TRNK, New York, NY

2020  “Reflections” – Triode, Paris, FR

2020  “Collectible” – Sight Unseen, Brussels, BE

2020  “Casa Perfect 3.0” – The Future Perfect, Los Angeles, CA

2019  “New Work by Ben & Aja Blanc” – Salon Boston, Boston, MA

2018  “New Work by Ben & Aja Blanc” – 3.1 Phillip Lim, New York, NY

2018  “A New Breed” – Salone, Milan, IT

2018  “Casa Perfect” – The Future Perfect, Beverly Hills, CA

2017  “OFFSITE” – Sight Unseen, New York, NY

2017  “ICFF” – Javits Center, New York, NY

2017  “Casa Perfect” – The Future Perfect, Los Angeles, CA

2016  “WILD” – Maison & Objet, Paris, FR

2016  “Architectural Digest Show” – New York, NY

2015  “RISD Faculty Biennial” – RISD Museum of Art, Providence, RI

2015  “OFFSITE” – Sight Unseen,  New York, NY

2014  “OutPost / Swarovski” – The Providence Hidden Gem Project, Providence, RI

2013  “Risk & Certainty in Uncertain Times” – Curated by John Maeda, Milan, IT

2012  “The Exchange” – AS220 Project Space, Providence, RI

2012  “Copper in a Box” – Musée Des Arts Et Métiers, Paris, FR

2012  “Copper in a Box II” – Design Museum Triennale di Milano, Milan, IT

2012  “Cade Tompkins Projects” – Bridgehampton, NY

2011  “A Product of Design” – Scion Installation L.A., Culver City, CA

2011  “Ben Blanc” – Louis Boston Project Space, Boston, MA

2011  “RISD Faculty Biennial” – RISD Museum of Art, Providence, RI

2010  “CITE Goes America” – CITE Gallery, New York, NY

2009  “Model Citizens–ICFF” – Exit Underground Gallery, New York, NY

2009  “RISD Faculty Biennial Exhibition” – Chace Center Galleries, Providence, RI

2007  “Operation Arctic Hare” – Edith Gallery, Köln, Germany

2007  “Material Culture, Contemporary American Design” – Max Lang Gallery, New York, NY

2007  “Coming of Age Continued” – Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, Ohio

2007  “Coming of Age Exhibition” – WoodTurning Center, Philadelphia, PA

2006  “Input/Output” – Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, New York, NY

2006  “NY Living Spaces (ICFF)” – Supreme Trading Company, Brooklyn, NY

2005  “Altoids/Living Spaces (ICFF), Supreme Trading Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2005  “Salone Internazionale del Mobile” – Salon Satellite, Milan, IT

2004  “Traces, Restaurant Design” – Salone, Milan, IT

2004  “Emerging Artists” – Reside Gallery, Cambridge, MA

Group Exhibitions

2014  Silvermine Arts Center, New Canaan, CT

2014  GreenSpace, TFG, Warwick, RI

2013  “WANTED” – Off-site ICFF, New York, NY

2013  “artMRKT Hamptons” – Cade Tompkins Projects, Bridgehampton, NY

2012  “Welcome Home Quad Cities” – ArtsCenter Gallery, Rock Island, IL

2012  “Bigger-Glorious Objects” – Jamestown Art Center, Jamestown, RI

2010  “Seeing Through Lines” – Simms Gallery, Providence, RI

2010  “Studio 308” – Mercantile Gallery, Providence, RI

2010  “World’s Apart” – Art Space Gallery, New Haven, CT

2008  “Concentric” – Art Space Gallery, New Haven, CT

2008  “CWOS” – Erector Square Gallery, New Haven, CT

2008  “ICFF” – Javits Center, New York, NY

2005  “Providence Fine Furnishing” – Convention Center, Providence, RI

2004  “Faux Real” – Providence, RI

2003  “Fidelity Investments All Media” – Providence Art Club, Providence, RI

Teaching – Aja Blanc

Adjunct Faculty – Furniture Design Department, Graduate Thesis Seminar, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI

Adjunct Faculty – Teaching and Learning in Art and Design, Museum Practicum: Object Based Learning, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI

2017-present  RISD Guest Critic

Teaching – Ben Blanc

2022-2015  Graduate Thesis Studio, Furniture Department, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI

2016-2009  Design for Production, Furniture Department / Interdepartmental Course, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI

2013  Gifted by RISD, Academic Affairs Department / Interdepartmental Course, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI

2012  Graduate Thesis 1st Year + Thesis Year, Furniture Design Department, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI

2012  Professional Practice, Furniture Department, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI

2011  Senior DP Studio, Furniture Design Department, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI