Casey McCafferty to Debut 40 Boxes at The Rooms in Brussels

Self-taught artisan Casey McCafferty is creating a series of about 40 'somewhat functional' boxes for The Rooms, an art and design fair in Brussels next month. His work sits at the intersection of furniture, sculpture, and craft, with pieces that are muscular, animated, and often defy easy use—cabinets that taunt users, screens like climbing walls, seating that discourages lingering. McCafferty, raised on Staten Island by a firefighter father, studied at Wagner College and worked at Citigroup before moving to Los Angeles with his wife. There, he intended to attend College of the Redwoods but instead found success through interior designers. His clientele now includes Kelly Wearstler, Kelly Behun, Pierre Yovanovitch, and Rockwell Group. Operating from a 6,000-square-foot shop with two employees and two dogs, he also maintains a small foundry for casting knobs. Wood pieces, especially cabinets, can take up to four weeks to carve on every surface. McCafferty wishes his abstract sculptures received more attention, noting the meditative quality of chisel work. He also tinkers with motorcycles and minibikes while his three children visit the shop.