Each month, we tap Southwest Florida's design visionaries to share their most compelling global finds. For March, we enter the world of Chad Jensen, founder of Naples' Method & Concept gallery. Drawing from his Detroit maker roots, Jensen champions innovative mid-career artists who push the boundaries of craft and materiality. His curated selection reveals five ingenious pieces—from Swedish glass vessels reimagining ancient techniques to concrete forms that embrace living greenery—each telling a story of process, intention and artistic evolution in Naples' most thoughtful spaces.
Courtesy Method & Concept
Ledoux Shelving by N.Shook
Natalie Shook’s solid wood system captures the monumentality of 18th-century French architecture. Spine-like supports echo Claude-Nicolas Ledoux’s Royal Saltworks—a referential landmark, where classical forms met industrial function. Precisely engineered, moveable components lock together without hardware for infinite configurations. “It allows [you] to play designer,” Chad says. A slatted shelf placed high becomes a clothing rack; sculptural panels add storage; adjustable sills add a desk, displays and bookshelf. nshook.com
Courtesy Nature Squared
Eggshell Surfaces by Nature Squared
Since 2000, Nature Squared has transformed industry by-products (oyster shells, fish skins, natural fibers) into surfaces that rival exotic hardwoods and marble. Chad champions the brand’s eggshell innovations, including crushed shells inlaid into intricate patterns and shells converted into a casting material for sculptural panels. The brand’s newer CArrelé tiles elevate the culinary castoffs from surface embellishment to structural elements. “I’m drawn to the potential things we could make with it,” Chad says, envisioning other sustainable applications. naturesquared.com
Lightweights by Gradual
Chad is drawn to creators experimenting with materiality and imparting meaning to everyday objects. “Even lighting becomes sculptural when there’s a narrative behind it,” he says, pointing to these pendants, crafted from thousands of stacked paper sheets. LED light travels through the columns, measuring time: the One Day Lamp fills with light over 24 hours; the One Hour Lamp uses dual cylinders for minutes and hours; and the Century Lamp illuminates over 100 years. Together, they reflect the rhythmic nature of time. begradual.com
Courtesy Method & Concept
Downstairs by Peter Hermansson
“I’ve never seen anybody work in glass like Peter works in glass,” Chad says of the Swiss glassblower, whose works have captivated local collectors since Method & Concept began showing them in 2023. Peter’s new Downstairs vessel—crafted for the artist’s U.S. debut show at the gallery last month—employs the Ariel technique, in which clear and colored glass is layered with controlled air bubbles to create distinct designs. Ancient mythology and street art influences collide in the 12-inch-tall piece, where figures seem to move through the glass. “Every vessel is like a 360-degree painting,” Chad says. “When you walk around it, it creates an endless narrative.” peterhermansson.com
Courtesy Tom Sachlan
Drillium Chaise by Opiary
Handcrafted by landscape designer Robert Remer’s team, this 3-foot-wide Drillium Chaise melds modern geometry with botanical whimsy. Striking indoors or outdoors, the perforated concrete frame houses air plants in corner pockets or invites wild growth in garden settings. “That’s why I love this piece—it feels like nature still has a chance,” Chad says. The piece comes with a pair of Sunbrella-upholstered cushions, engineered for year-round outdoor living. opiary.com