Opening: Tuesday, March 4th, 7 – 9 PM
On View: March 5th – April 25th, 2014
Location: Max Mara, 813 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10021

Sasha Sykes will be exhibiting in the Max Mara salon boutique her beautifully encased pieces filled with nature and every day objects that become works of art doubling as conceptual furniture. Sykes preserves time as she envelops delicate roses in acrylic cubes and turns pool chalk into mesmerizing patterns. The Irish-born female artist pushes the boundaries on how to execute sculpture as furniture as well as the materiality of the objects inside. Her background in architecture is evident through her complex juxtaposition of containment and the freedom of nature. The cubes, although acrylic, have an organic feel that Sykes achieves through using found materials and inspiration from her home in Ireland.

Sasha Sykes is a creator of highly unusual handcrafted contemporary furniture and functional artworks. Born in Dublin in 1976, she studied architecture before establishing her solo artistic career.  She has worked across the globe including London and New York and has now settled in her native Ireland where she lives with her husband and two young children. The artist’s work is particularly known for its use of acrylics and hand-cast resins, embedding found objects and collected organic materials, which tell stories of our landscape and social history.

Representing Sykes, Manhattan based contemporary art consultant Blair Voltz Clarke focuses on cultivating and launching the careers of talented emerging artists in the global marketplace. Clarke’s passion is connecting art world professionals, collectors, and enthusiasts. Her Southern flair, exquisite taste, and relationships with important global collectors have earned her an important place in the contemporary art market.  For the past ten years, Voltz Clarke Contemporary Inc., has hosted exhibitions which focus on the intersection of luxury fashion and cutting edge contemporary art.  With the right mix of uptown sophistication and downtown verve, Voltz Clarke exceeds at introducing provoking art with a refreshing point of view. Highlights from the Sykes exhibition will be available at www.voltzclarke.com.

Hosting the event Max Mara, the premiere collection of the Max Mara Fashion Group, is the epitome of Italian style and luxury; a confident and contemporary collection of tailored silhouettes, sumptuous fabrications and couture details applied to ready-to-wear.  Known for stylish coats, form-skimming separates, sharp suits and elegant accessories, Max Mara, was founded by the late visionary Achille Maramotti in 1951. The collection is now available in over 2,300 locations in 105 countries and was the first of 19 collections under the Max Mara umbrella. The company remains privately held and managed by the Maramotti family.

Encased will be held in collaboration with The Armory Show as a VIP event. The Armory show is widely acclaimed internationally and is the largest art fair in New York City. The event brings together artists, galleries, collectors, critics and curators from all over the world. The show was founded in 1994 and draws its name and inspiration from a legendary exhibition in 1913 that is “credited for bringing Modern art to New York.” The event also serves as a melting pot of inspiration and collaboration for the artistic community. The Armory Show VIP Program courts 12,000 influential art enthusiasts from all over the world and features exclusive events including private collection tours, seminars and special events that have become an essential part of the international art circuit. There are 20-25 VIP events held during the show and 3-5 events throughout the year.

As a globally influenced exhibition, Michelin rated Italian Chef Matteo Temperini from the beautiful Le Sirenuse Hotel in Positano, Italy will be creating a selection of hors d’oeuvres for the event. Guests will taste the flavors of Southern Italy as they explore Sasha Sykes’s works in this Italian styled setting. It is a privilege to welcome Le Sirenuse and Chef Temperini as their exquisite taste and style matches that of Voltz Clarke creating an overall sophisticated and worldly show.