Wooden side chairs with a woven seat made from bulrush or straw have been popular in Mexico since the 1500s. This style of chair has ancient roots in the Mediterranean region, with a strong tradition in Spain, particularly the southern region of Andalusia. In Mexico during the colonial period (1521–1821), Spanish chair makers adapted to the local materials available to them. And as demand for these chairs grew, Indigenous artisans began creating them as well. They made minor adjustments that reflect their craft traditions and needs.
This chair type has been highly successful, and centuries later its design has barely changed. Today, it is considered one of the most iconic Mexican chairs and continues to inspire contemporary designers.
Oscar Hagerman
Mexican, born 1936 in La Coruña, Spain; lives and works in Mexico City
Maya
1990
Ayacahuite wood, woven tule, and woven cotton
Oscar Hagerman. Courtesy of Oscar Hagerman and Canto Artesanos, Mexico City. Photo by Tania Vazques.
I have strived to ensure that my designs are done in a simple style, just as the people in the communities know how to make them. When one works in this way, the new blends harmoniously with what already exists, and people are happy.
Oscar Hagerman’s designs are rooted in his respect for the artisan communities, techniques, and materials he has worked with throughout his over 50-year career. In Maya, he incorporates the Maya meander motif into its leg shape and explores the relationship between human ergonomics and design. Purposefully created with local artisanal workshops, this chair champions the use of accessible materials, promoting a sustainable approach to design grounded in tradition.
La Metropolitana
Mexico City, established 2008
Rodrigo Escobedo Baena
Mexican, born 1982 in Mexico City; lives and works in Mexico City
Mauricio Guerrero
Mexican, born 1986 in Mexico City; lives and works in Mexico City
Alejandro Gutiérrez
Mexican, born 1981 in Mexico City; lives and works in Mexico City
CM Lounge
2021
Tzalam wood and woven jute
Manufactured by La Metropolitana, Mexico City
Rodrigo Escobedo Baena, Mauricio Guerrero, and Alejandro Gutiérrez. Courtesy of La Metropolitana.
I was born and raised in Mexico City, the place where I have developed my career and established La Metropolitana. My education in Furniture Design has led me to explore carpentry and the making of stringed instruments in depth, combining skills that enriched and diversified my approach to the world of design. My career as a designer has been marked by my passion for traditional crafts and the transformation of materials in different cultures. I strive to create designs that fuse tradition and avant-garde, thus contributing to building a more resilient world and an empathetic and conscious society.
Esteban Caicedo
Colombian, born 1994 in Cali, Colombia; lives and works in Mexico City
Palapa
2022
Huayruro wood with natural finish, chuspata (natural fiber), and bleached palm
Esteban Caicedo. Courtesy of Esteban Caicedo. Photo by Iganacio Vázquez Paravano.
I wanted to develop a line of objects that was based on my utopian idea of a marriage between Afro-Mexican and Afro-Colombian culture. The Palapa chair represents that fusion, but above all else it represents dance, movement. I hope that the presentation of our piece will inspire visitors and new generations of creatives to investigate, exalt, and promote the richness of our traditions and the outstanding craftsmanship of our artisans.
LANZA Atelier
Mexico City, established 2015
Isabel Abascal
Spanish, born 1984 in Madrid; lives and works in Mexico City
Alessandro Arienzo
Mexican, born 1987 in Mexico City; lives and works in Mexico City
A Family of 4
2023
Red oak wood
Manufactured by Nudo Taller, Mexico City. Produced by AGO Projects, Mexico City
Alessandro Arienzo and Isabel Abascal (left to right). Courtesy of LANZA. Photo by Pia Riverola.
Inspired by the birth of our second son, we designed a collection of 4 chairs of different heights in which backrests and legs grow. We propose a series of seats for anyone to use at different moments: the ground-level chair for sitting while playing with a baby on the floor, the medium-height chair for a boy to draw or a grown-up to relax, the conventional-height chair to stand on and grab something from a top shelf, the tallest chair for a baby to sit at the table with everyone else, and all the in-betweens.
Exhibition Guide Sections
Have a Seat: Mexican Chair Design Today is organized by the Denver Art Museum. Support is provided by the Estate of Marjorie MacLachlan, Rudy Weissenberg and Rodman Primack, the donors to the Annual Fund Leadership Campaign, and the residents who support the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). Promotional support is provided by 5280 Magazine and CBS Colorado.
