Ben Medansky is an orchestrator of controlled chaos, a sculptor of hard edges in naturalistic worlds, a refiner of industrial aesthetics that retain rough and human qualities.
The varied environments of Arizona, Chicago and Los Angeles - both natural and manmade - are the foundation to Ben’s creative inspiration. He is especially influenced by Brutalist and Modern architecture and industrial design; specifically by the strong and diverse architecture of downtown LA and it's seemingly uninterrupted construction. Ben is also drawn to themes and motifs of technology and space exploration and the industrial aesthetics they employ. Much of this work explores variations on radial symmetry and grids while utilizing a limited color palette. It is an appropriation of aesthetics employed by the mechanical world; an experiment in mimicking strong forms out of a fragile material. The output is a meditation on minimalism and mechanics, re-mastered in earthen and eternal material.
Ben Medansky (b. 1988) was born in Scottsdale, AZ and received his BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2010. His work has been exhibited at The American Museum of Ceramic Art, Craft and Folk Art Museum, Cooper Hewitt Design Museum, The Underground Museum, among other venues. Medansky’s ceramics are included in the permanent collection of the Los Angeles Museum County of Art, Louis Vuitton, Fendi, and Chloé. He has been reviewed in The New York Times, Architectural Digest, LA Times, among others, and was named a “tastemaker” by the Wallpaper USA 400 in 2025. He was the recipient of the Maison & Objet Americas Rising Talent in Design Award. Ben has created exclusive work in collaboration with Herman Miller, the legendary Bergdorf Goodman, and world-renowned designer Kelly Wearstler. Medansky has been a visiting lecturer at The American Museum of Ceramic Art, California College of Art, and The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He has taught at Ox Bow School of Art and was an artist in residence at The Headlands Center for the Arts and Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts. Medansky lives and works in Los Angeles, CA.
Ben Medansky
b.1988
Education & Residencies
Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, 2018
Headlands Center for the Arts, 2017
BFA School of the Art Institute of Chicago, 2010
Ox-Bow School of Art, 2008-2009
Solo and Two Person Exhibitions
2024 Capsule Collection, Maison Truvaille Galerie, Los Angeles, CA
2023 Ferns & Freeways, Presented by Bianca Chen, Los Angeles, CA
2021 Mental, Harvey Preston Gallery, Aspen, CO
2017 For Further Study, Room 68, Provincetown, MA
2016 Fired By The Fire, Lawson Fenning, Los Angeles, CA
2014 Gridscape, Space 15 Twenty, Los Angeles, CA
2014 From Beginning to End, & Pens, San Francisco, CA
2014 Ben Medansky, Poketo, Los Angeles, CA
2013 Ben Medansky, Object Design League, Chicago, IL
Group Exhibitions
2025 Infield, The Cummings Estate, Curated by Chet Callahan and Meaghan Roddy, LA Design Weekend, Los Angeles, CA
2025 That Was Now, Placed, Livingston, MT
2024 Creativity Curated, The Cummings Estate, Curated by To The Trade, LA Design Weekend, Los Angeles, CA
2024 Cup with Square Rods, Aesthetics of Everyday Objects: The Cup, Curated by Jenny Hata Blumenfield, Los Angeles, CA
2023 Stacked III, Formations & Figments, Curated by Tyler Christopher Brown at Michael Felix Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2022 VESSELS, SIZED LTD, Los Angeles, CA
2021 TOTUM, A Show to Honor the Trees, Curated by Kyle DeWoody, Ojai / LA, CA
2021 Super Group 2, Superhouse Vitrine, New York, NY
2021 Material/Memory/Myth, Jeff Lincoln + Nicole Timonier, Los Angeles, CA
2021 Craft in America, LAX Terminal 1.5, Los Angeles, CA
2020 Support Systems, Egg Collective, New York City, NY
2020 An Unbound Chain, Egg Collective, New York City, NY
2019 Buried in the Snow, American Institute of Thoughts and Feelings, AZ
2019 Out of the Box, Nonfinito Gallery, NY
2019 Mess, Future Perfect, CA / NY / SF
2019 Consume, Craft in America, Los Angeles, CA
2019 Planter Show, Object Permanence, Los Angeles, CA
2019 Clay LA, Craft Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA
2018 Materializations, the Landing, Los Angeles, CA
2018 Making It Work: Production by Design, American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA
2018 Melting Point, Craft and Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles, CA
2017 In Order of Appearance, Charlie James Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2017 Busted, Cooler Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2017 Headlands Benefit, Headlands Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA
2016 Persephone’s, We Came in Peace, Eastown, Hollywood, CA
2015-16 California Ceramists, Lawson Fenning, Los Angeles, CA
2015-16 Site Specific: LA, Austere, Curated by Sight Unseen, Los Angeles
2015 Pyrite Collection, Bergdorf Goodman, New York City, NY
2015 Legends Ball, Woven Accents, Curated by Hammer & Spear, Los Angeles, CA
2015 CARLA Issue 1 Launch, Human Resources, Los Angeles, CA
2015 NOWHAUS: Domestic Objects in the Modernist Tradition, Harris Gallery at University of La Verne, La Verne, CA
2014 Myself is An Other, The Underground Museum, Los Angeles, CA
2014 Pot Heads, Design Matters Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2014 LVL3, Chicago, IL
2010 Cheap Sensations and Empty Thrills, BFA Exhibition, Sullivan Galleries, Chicago, IL
2010 Art in the Loop, LVL3, Chicago, IL
2008 PUT OUT: Experiments in Exchange, Mess Hall, Chicago, IL
Fairs
2023 Wavepool, NCECA, Cincinnati, OH
2023 AMBOS x YOU, FRIEZE, Los Angeles, CA
2022 SIZED / MatchesFashion, FRIEZE, Los Angeles, CA
2018 the Landing, NADA Miami, Miami, FL
2016 Rising Talent in Design, Maison & Objet Americas, Miami, FL
Lectures
2023 Artist Lecture and Panel Discussion, Proper Hotel DTLA, Los Angeles, CA
2022 Artist Lecture and Public Art Tour, Conrad DTLA, Los Angeles, CA
2019 Visiting Artist Lecture and Demo, Clay CA, Los Angeles, CA
2017 Visiting Artist Lecture, The American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA
2017 Visiting Artist Lecture, Ox Bow School of Art, Saugatuck, MI
2017 Visiting Artist Lecture, CERF+ Board Meeting, Hollywood, CA
2016 Rising Talent in Design Panel Discussion, Maison & Objet Americas, Miami
2013 Visiting Artist Lecture in the Ceramics Department and Design Object Department, SAIC, Chicago
2013 Visiting Artist Lecture in the Ceramics Department, CCA, San Francisco
Awards and Grants
2025 Wallpaper USA 400
2016 Maison & Objet Americas Rising Talent in Design Award
Permanent Collections
2025 The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO
2024 Chloé Collection
2023 FENDI Collection
2023 Louis Vuitton Collection
2018 Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Decorative Arts and Design Department
Installations
2025 Casa Luma Fireplace, Brandon Creed Residence, Los Angeles, CA
2025 Wall Installation, Gates McFadden Residence, Los Angeles, CA
2024 Seaweed Wall Installation, Antigua
2024 Fireplace, Katie Bravo residence, Phoenix, AZ
2024 Foldy Wall, Boulder, CO
2024 Desertscape, Chlóe, Dallas, TX
2024 Two Ceramic Cladded Columns, The Manor, New York, NY
2024 Cloudscape, Chloé Melrose, Los Angeles, CA
2024 Blue Triptych, Fendi, Puerto Banús, Spain
2024 Mirror Installations, Jeff Bezos Residence, Beverly Hills, CA
2024 Fountain, The Living Room, Hollywood, CA
2024 Black Wave Fireplace, Private Residence, Jeff Andrews Interiors, Manhattan Beach, CA
2023 Botanical Wall, Private Residence, Dominican Republic
2023 Level 6 Rooftop Bar, Miami, FL
2022 Wave Wall, The Conrad Hotel, Downtown Los Angeles, CA
2021 Truncated Biconical Tower, Private Residence, Los Feliz, CA
2020 Tangled Rectangle Wall, Private Residence, Hancock Park, CA
2020 Ceramic Mural, Downtown Proper, Los Angeles, CA
2020 Ceramic Mural, Santa Monica Proper, Santa Monica, CA
2019 Fireplace Surround, Oscar de la Hoya’s Residence, Pasadena, CA
2016 Ceramic Column for Kelly Wearstler, Hollywood Proper Residences and Hotel at Columbia Square, Los Angeles, CA
Publications and Press
2025 Wallpaper USA 400
2025 Ceramic Surrounds, American Craft Magazine
2020 Artist Feature: Ben Medansky, Flaunt Magazine
2020 Designer of the Day: Ben Medansky, Surface Magazine
2019 How America's Most Creative Artisans Are Changing the Culture of Craft, Departures Magazine
2019 Eight Creative Talents Writing the Next Chapter in California Design, Architectural Digest
2017 Radio interview - Peter Shire, KCRW Design and Architecture
2017 Best of The City, Angeleno Magazine
2016 Ben Medansky, Object Journal The Los Angeles Issue Vol. I
2016 Open Studios, L.A.: Ben Medansky, Shaping the Future, California Home+Design
2016 Radio interview, KCRW Design and Architecture
2016 Distinct Daily
2016 Brutalismo e estetica industrial influenciam o design de Ben Medansky, Casa Vogue
2016 Studio Visit: Ben Medansky, Tetra
2016 Culture Design, Prestige
2016 Preview the Best Design Newcomers Showing at Offsite, W
2016 Ben Medansky infuses industrial aesthetics into carefully-crafted ceramic wares,
Designboom
2016 6 Up-and-Coming Designers You Should Know About, Architectural Digest
2016 Getting Lit, FourTwoNine
2016 On The Wall 027, The Thick
2016 8 Beautiful Ways to Prepare Coffee at Home, Design Milk
2016 Maison & Objet Americas Returns to Miami Beach for a second year, Wallpaper*
2016 Well Designed Smoking Accessories that You’re Going to Want to Show Off, The ANY
Magazine
2016 Get Your Kid to Play With Play-Doh Like a World-Class Ceramicist, Fatherly
2016 Maison&Objet Americas: 6 designers em ascensao, CASA Vogue
2015 A Mountain out of a Mudhill, Hypebeast
2105 hello mr.
2015 Designer Crush: Ben Medansky, California Home+Design
2015 Ben Medansky adds golden tinge to tasteful ceramic mug, HomeCrux
2016 Furturisten, D2
2016 Want a Gothic Valentine’s Day Gift? This Occult-Inspired Pop-Up in Hollywood Is For You, Los Angeles Times
2016 The Art of Handmade Coffee Brewing Devices, Sprudge
2016 Persephone’s Botanical Pop-Up Has Exotic Flora For Your Non-Traditional Valentine's, Los Angeles Racked
2016 These Avant-Garde Arrangements Look So Right In Ben Medansky’s Vases, Sight Unseen
2015 Neo-Classical Pieces, Reinterpreted, NYTime T Magazine
2015 Pyrite Collection: Kelly Wearstler X Ben Medansky, Design Milk
2015 2015 Best Stuff of the Year, GQ Magazine
2015 Shaping the Future: Ten Marvellous Modern Ceramicists, AnOther
2015 7 Questions with Ben Medansky, Unique
2015 The “ C” List: Ready to Ware, C Magazine
2015 Bomb Gifts for Your Baby Bro ( or any Cool Dude in Your Life!), Khloe with a K
2015 Artist profile, Jock & Nerds
2015 Say hi to_Ben Medansky, Say hi_to
2015 A Mountain out of a Mudhill, Hypebeast
2015 Victory and Vices, Pulp
2015 Studio Visit: Ben Medansky’s New Digs, Cool Hunting
2015 Studio Visit: Ben Medansky, Design Milk
2015 In His Shoes: hello mr. Captures Three Artists at Work, hello mr.
2015 This is the Easter Menu of Our Dreams, Bon Appetit
2015 Ask a Designer: Orlando Soria, Coastal Living
2014 Artist to Know, Bon Appetit
2014 Buyer’s Sourcebook: Essentials for Every Room, Dwell Magazine
2014 Born to Kiln, V Man Magazine
2014 The New Ceramicists, NYTimes T Magazine
2014 Beach House Living, C Magazine
2014 LA Designer: Ben Medansky, Potting His Way from Arizona to Milan
2013 The Ceramicist: An Interview with Ben Medansky, LA I’m Yours
2013 Sight Unseen
2013 Gift Guide, LA Times
2013 Gift Guide, New Yorker
