LACMA Acquires Works by Graduate Program Chair Elena Manferdini

The Decorative Arts and Design department of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) covers Europe and America from the medieval era to international contemporary works, and it has a tradition of collecting new pieces by those living in Los Angeles and Southern California. Recent acquisitions include Building Portraits—a project by Elena Manferdini, Graduate Program Chair at SCI-Arc and principal and owner of Atelier Manferdini—which is concerned with the digital weaving of architectural elements.

LACMA has acquired two models, five drawings, a silk scarf, and a rug from Manferdini’s project. She began by creating scripted drawings and then translated them via a digital weaving process into detailed patterns rendered in vibrant color palettes. Next, she turned the drawings into three-dimensional models, which have inspired designs for building facades.

“It is a snapshot of my process of creation and the way in which certain ideas and techniques come to fruition in the field of design and architecture,” Manferdini says. One facade that resulted from these studies is Blank Facades, which was commissioned by The Allen Morris Company to cover the parking structure of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Florida (view a video on the project).

“I have been involved with LACMA as an avid spectator for many years, and have been going to numerous thought-provoking lectures on themes related to architecture, curator-led tours of special design exhibitions, and private gallery visits,” Manferdini says. “Therefore, I consider it an honor to be included in their acquisition selection for 2018. It is a recognition of the value of the pieces, but most importantly the body of work that lead to their creation.”