The Female Design Council Will Present “Material Dialogues” at Salon Art + Design 2025

Salon Art + Design, which will return to the Park Avenue Armory this November 6-10, will welcome the Female Design Council (FDC) for its second consecutive year. The leading advocacy organization for women in design, FDC will present “Material Dialogues,” a survey of sculptural objects by 14 member designers from across North America. While the carefully curated, narrative presentation will nest in the Armory’s South Hall, its counterpoint, the North Hall, will be designed by FDC member Virginia Harper.

“Material Dialogues” encompasses experimental and conceptual sculpture, lighting design, metalwork, and more. Participants range from Bond Hardware founder Dana Hurwitz to artist Katherine Forst, the mosaicist with a landmark commission by LaGuardia Airport. Highlights are set to include glass contributions from Erica Sellers of Studio S II, a terracotta sculpture from Sophia Wallace’s Swan Series, Sylvia Lee’s reinterpretation of traditional Chinese lanterns, and forged forms by Gabrielle Shelton.

“Each of these members contributes a distinct voice to an ongoing conversation about material, making, and meaning,” says Lora Appleton, founder of the Female Design Council. “Material Dialogues is a convening of works, a glimpse into the world of the FDC and its incredible range. That energy—the willingness to share process, perspective, and connection—is what defines the FDC.”

An annual expression of the complementary power of the fine and decorative arts, Salon Art + Design consistently sets a standard by which other showcases are measured. With its presence, the FDC again affirms the caliber of its members and its ability to advocate for them.