Notoriously one of the most challenging objects to conceive, the chair is also among the most resonant forms an artist or designer can undertake. Intimately bound to the human body, it requires a negotiation with ergonomics, whether in pursuit of comfort or in defiance of function. Its ubiquity has made it fertile ground for material and formal experimentation, from industrial innovation to unexpected media applications. As both symbol and utility—evoking authority and dignity as readily as vulnerability—we locate ourselves in the world through this singular object. For decades, R & Company has explored the chair’s cultural and artistic significance. The Chair, Collected brings together 20 modern and contemporary works that trace inventive approaches to seat design while reflecting the gallery’s own collecting ethos and offering compelling opportunities for both public and private collections.