The Big Easy: Ron Arad and Moroso opens on September 14th at the manufacturer’s showroom on Greene Street. It's a show that was purposely coordinated to coincide with the MoMA’s exhibit, "an opportunity to take advantage of the energy Ron has brought to the city," says Ben Watson, CEO of Moroso USA. 

For those who have shopped at or strolled through (with lust) the showroom, you'll recall it's a very long space, making it perfect for this show. Designed by Arad, the installtion uses the entire showroom to present the timeline of a more than 25-year working relationship with Moroso. Arad will also be attending the opening on the 14th and will unveil the wall painting he created for the exhibit. What is it of? "Only Ron knows," answers Watson. 

Dubbed “Mad Hatter” (a nod to his expansive hat collection) in Azure’s October 2006 profile, the author described the furniture designer-cum-architect as “an agent provocateur and nonconformist, in his work and in person…destined to attract attention.”

And attract attention, he has. In 1981 the Israeli-born, London-based designer, ventured into the thick of a scrap yard and emerged with the first Rover Chair. Built from a leather car seat, tubular steel and Klee-Klamps, he sold the chair to fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier.

In the late ‘80s, Patrizia Moroso asked Arad to do some work for the firm that bears her name. Since then  – in between being a product designer and architect – he has created some of the most innovative and unorthodox soft-seating options for Moroso. The exhibit will include the 12-piece Spring Collection, which include the Big Easy and Soft Heart – a series that propelled Arad’s industrial production into the spotlight. Since creating the Spring Collection, Moroso's partnership with Arad has been one of the most important relationship's the company has had, says Watson.

In addition to the favourites on view (the rotation-moulded polyethylene Victioria and Albert chairs, Three Skin chair, Misfits couch), including the brand new Do-Lo-Rez modular sofa, Patrizia has included never before seen pieces from her personal collection and for the first time, visitors will see the first prototypes for the Big Easy.

To hear about those prototypes and more, the MoMA is hosting a series of panel discussion with Arad.

The Big Easy: Ron Arad and Moroso runs for four weeks at Moroso’s SoHo store at 146 Greene Street.

Ron Arad: No Discipline runs through October 19 at the Museum of Modern Art at 11 West 53 Street.