An exhibition examining design across eras, curated by Office of Tangible Space and VERSO 

Office of Tangible Space and VERSO present Nothing Comes from Nothing for NYCxDesign, a cross-generational exploration of the enduring nature of creative influence. The exhibition pairs work by leading contemporary designers with historic, museum-quality design pieces to reflect on the continuity of ideas across time and propose that innovation is never created in isolation, but shaped by precedent, process, and lived experience. 

Examining the proverb “ex nihilo nihil fit” – which translates to “nothing comes from nothing” and asserts that all outcomes require an input, whether effort, material, or the seed of an idea – the exhibition frames design as a continuum. 

Nothing Comes from Nothing unfolds pairings of contemporary and historic works, each connecting a designer to the precedents that inform their practice. 

Featured contemporary participants include François Chambard, Kiki Goti, Kim Mupangilai, Liam Lee, Madeline Isakson, Minjae Kim, Muller Van Severen, Natalie Shook, Nifemi Marcus-Bello, Objects of Common Interest, and Office of Tangible Space. 

Together, these juxtapositions foreground a central premise: that creative production is cumulative, not instantaneous. Rather than presenting design as a series of isolated breakthroughs, the exhibition positions it as an ongoing conversation across generations. 

In lieu of creating literal visual matches, Office of Tangible Space and VERSO approached each pairing as a dialogue rooted in inspiration and shared inquiry. In selecting historic works, they prioritized pieces that embody both the quality and material character of their era and enduring themes relevant today. Contemporary participants were chosen for the rigor of their practices and their ability to produce work that resonates at a museum level, highlighting a new generation of designers actively extending these lineages into the present. 

Historic works in the exhibition include significant examples such as Alvar Aalto’s Paimio Sanatorium Hospital Bed (1929), Andrea Branzi/Archizoom Associati’s Superonda Sofa (1967), and the RR 126 Speakers by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni (1964), among others. Historic pieces are from a series of sources - the collections of Patrick Parrish, Lanoba, VERSO and Office of Tangible Space. 

“At a moment in time when questions of creative influence and production are in constant turmoil, we were interested in showing how ideas persist and evolve,” shares Michael Yarinsky, Office of Tangible Space Principal and Co-Founder. “In pairing the leading contemporary furniture makers and design thinkers with the works of those historic design figures who inspired their practice, we hope to illustrate the values that tie us to the past and can help guide us into the future.” 

“Amid the growing emphasis on spectacle and short-lived gestures across recent large-scale design events, we felt it was important to take a different position", says Amauri Aguiar, VERSO’s Founder. “Design is not defined by isolated moments of novelty, but by continuity, discipline, and influence. With Nothing Comes from Nothing, we sought to reconnect contemporary practice with the legacy of the masters who shaped the field, establishing a dialogue that reveals how ideas are carried forward, reinterpreted, and refined over time. It is through this continuity that design retains its depth and relevance.” 

Nothing Comes from Nothing is presented at a new ground-floor exhibition space at 144 Vanderbilt Avenue in Brooklyn, designed by Jinhee Park and Florian Idenburg of SO–IL and developed by Tankhouse. The space’s distinct view corridors and alcoves frame each pairing, creating moments of focused engagement. This spatial strategy reinforces the relationships between works, allowing visitors to experience each dialogue individually while understanding its place within the larger narrative. 

Nothing Comes from Nothing will be on view for two weeks from May 13th to May 27th, 2026, with public hours and availability for private appointments. 

On view at

144 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn  11205

Date & Time 
Press Preview – May 13, 2026 (4-6pm) 
Opening – May 13, 2026 (6-9pm) 
Public Hours – May 14-19, 2026 (10am-6pm) 
By Appointment – May 20-27, 2026 

For Appointments:
hello@verso-works.com