Léa Mestres’ ‘Small Car, Big Windows’ at Carpenters Workshop Gallery

Léa Mestres, a French artist and designer, showcases her new exhibition titled 'Small Car, Big Windows' at the Carpenters Workshop Gallery in London from June 11 to September 20, 2026. In collaboration with Martin Laforêt, the exhibition features a range of lighting, seating, and sculptural furniture, drawing inspiration from long journeys between Paris and Brittany. Mestres employs hand-cut glass mosaics and her unique mineral plaster 'lélélite' to craft pieces that intertwine memory, fantasy, and everyday influences, referencing figures like Antoni Gaudí, René Magritte, the Bliss wallpaper from Windows XP, and Virgil Abloh's Louis Vuitton runway. She views play as a form of resistance against a serious design ethos, emphasizing the importance of both sculpture and functionality in her work, particularly in the 'Craving for Crépi' series, which highlights texture and imperfection.