THE KINKAID SCHOOL
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Sofa Chat with Gregory Tenenbown ’98
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regory Tenenbown is a furniture designer who discovered his passion while a student at the University of Texas at Austin. He recently moved to Brooklyn, where he hopes his new company, Nonagon Design, will continue to create simply and solidly constructed, minimal furniture designs at an accessible price. When did you know you wanted to design and create furniture? What was the first piece you made? GT: At UT-Austin, I majored in English, but I would study at the Fine Arts Library because there was a lot of natural light. I would take breaks and wander around looking at art books. One day I stumbled upon a collection of DOMUS design magazines. I spent hours reading interviews with the great early modern designers and architects. This was the tipping point for me, the inspiration and motivation that led me to create a collection of my own. I began drawing tables, chairs and eventually the design prototype for my Trapezium Sofa. Flash forward to three years ago: I worked with Jack Sanders (a creative thinker and designer) in Austin who introduced me to welding and steel fabrication. I fell in love with metal work, bought a welder and started working on the GRIID wire chair that represents my first piece.
“Kinkaid pushed me to excel, explore and engage.” Gregory Tenenbown ’98 seated on his Trapezium Sofa. (photo credit: Wynn Myers)
You are self-taught as a designer and started out designing clothing. Have you always been creative? GT: I guess I have been into design, including fashion, from an early age. As a kid, I was always very particular about how I dressed and the layout and décor of my bedroom. My brother Jason [Tenenbown ’93] likes to remind me of these early preferences; at the age of eight, I had one outfit that I wore pretty much everyday for two years: Birdwell Beach Britches, a Campagnolo cycling cap, a long sleeve Vuarnet t-shirt, Swatch Watch and Asics shoes. I would wash my clothes myself every night to be certain they were clean for the next day.
What are your favorite memories of Kinkaid and how did it impact your chosen field and life path? GT: Kinkaid provided me with an amazing support group of teachers, coaches and friends. I was lucky to take art and photography classes with Dan Cassis and David Veselka, who both provided their students with a perfect balance of instruction and creative freedom. Kinkaid pushed me to excel, explore and engage. I am the first to admit that I struggled to keep up with the fast pace of the curriculum, but teachers like Bob Beck and Martin Caylor encouraged me and valued my perspective and creativity.
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I am still very close with my friends from Kinkaid, many of whom supported us during the past two years when my wife Lila was battling cancer. My friend Coley Cato ’98 is an amazing woodworker and designer. He has been a great mentor and teacher and helped me build the first Trapezium Sofa. We will continue to collaborate in the coming years. My cousins Jackie ’92 and Keith Gendel ’90 are two of the most talented people I know. Jackie, a painter who lives and works in Brooklyn, continues to astound me with her beautiful and timeless art. Keith is a gifted architect who works with his dad, Harry Gendel. Both have supported and inspired me on many levels.
What do you like to do when you’re not working? Any fun summer plans, other than exploring NYC and your new Brooklyn neighborhood? GT: I’m always searching for the perfect cup of coffee. There’s this classic pizza place in our new neighborhood called San Marco Pizzeria that serves a cappuccino that’s the best I’ve had so far. Being in New York is a dream realized; every day provides another opportunity to immerse myself in art, culture and diversity. Visit www.nonagondesign.com to see more of Gregory’s designs.