The Memphis Collection

David Oakey’s newest work is an homage of sorts to Ettore Sottsass, dead now for some three years; celebrated still and probably for many years to come for the revolutionary design group he led in Milan during the 1980s. Called “Memphis” after a Bob Dylan song, Sottsass and his band of merry co-conspirators broke through a wall of utilitarian modernist design with provocative patterns and color so bright it was shocking.

“People can play with The Memphis Collection and be as bold as they want, or make it more subtle,” says Oakey. “You can take solid colors from another product line of texture, maybe add in a little pattern, and do it right on the floor. Memphis is the whole concept of playing with the products and seeing what you can create.”

“Play” is a childlike word, but what it represents here is not. This collection puts personal freedom, creative energy, and the constant stimulation of art not just within our grasp, but also under our feet. It reflects Oakey’s take on signs of revitalization in the economy. Oakey says, “As the world evolves and the economy slowly makes a comeback, people are demanding sustainable products made by responsible companies that are both beautiful and joyful. Let’s try to move past all this gloom and doom. Let’s talk about color and happiness!”