Q+A #001: Max Radford [Gallerist and Designer]

💥 Apocalypse Now Coffee Table 🏠 A Georgian Captains-House 🪩 Secret Basement Club 🖼️ Kingsley Ifill 🔺 1980s Studio Alchimia 🟪 Collaborative Japanese Memphis Design

Feb 10, 2025

‘Storied Spaces’ is the RIALTO newsletter featuring ‘Q+A’, a bi-weekly column that features guest curators from the community, whom we invite to share inspiration from their home library. In each edit, you will hear from creatives we admire about the analogue inspirations that inform their work and vision.

Max Radford seems to work across as many aspects of design as possible; gallerist, decorator, designer, curator and researcher being some of his favourites. Born and based in London, Max is keen to champion his local scene on a global platform and continues to push progressive approaches to design in the city.

Instagram: @m_r.a.a.d @maxradfordgallery
Website: maxradfordgallery.com
Email: max@maxradfordgallery.com

Q+A

[001] What is your favourite piece in your collection?
This changes on a day-to-day basis; my Apocalypse Now Coffee Table was one of the first things I obsessed over grainy images of before finally getting it and will always be up there, as with my Carsten in Der Elst Greywacke Chair from when we first showed them in 2022.

Apocalypse Now Coffee Table in Max’s living room

I am currently sat on a Pallucco chair that was my Wife’s step-grandmothers which she gifted us when she saw the amazement in my eyes upon discovering it in her house because of the family connection as well as being a thing I love that will always be up there with my most cherished pieces.

Max’s Wife’s Step Grandmother’s Pallucco Chair

[002] Describe your dream interior or set if you had no budget restraints.
A Georgian captains-house overlooking the Thames at Wapping with all original detailing, white walls throughout, flag stone floor on the ground floor and creaky wooden floors above. A very well-prepared blackened steel kitchen and a huge dining room for getting your mates over. Interspersed with rare 80s & 90s designs as well as contemporary designs displayed in an almost gallery-like way. Secret basement club.

[003] What has piqued your interest lately?
The work of Kingsley Ifill, every image he captures I am into. We have a few prints at home that are really overdue framing.

[004] Best piece/gem you ever found at a flea market or at an auction?
A set of 4 Red Carimate Chairs for £10 after auction fees - back before everyone got on the salesroom!

[005] What’s the one that got away?
Barba d'Argento Chair by Paolo Pallucco & Mireille Rivier sold at auction in the UK a few years ago for not very much; I wasn’t feeling flush at the time, but I should have bought it !!!!!

I. ‘Alchimia’ by Kazuko Sato

This book is one of the first books that I bought that showed me in-depth the radical Italian design group Studio Alchimia of the 1980s and ignited my passion with designers such as Allesandro Mendini & Ugo La Pietra whilst reinforcing my love of the founder of Ettore Sottsass.

A series of gates at an exhibition designed by the group, showing the breadth of styles and techniques the group was capable of.

Some of my favourite collaborative furniture by the group

An interior design project by some members of the group - that rug!

A Famous image of lighting by the group impossible to find IRL, but I have dreamt about it.

Some Surreal takes on the classics by the group, the faux marble Colombo being my favourite.

II. ‘Interior Design. Uchida, Mitsuhashi, Nishioka & Studio 80’ by Shigeru Uchida, Ikuyo Mitsuhashi, Aldo Rossi

Another pivotal book for me and my understanding of Japanese design of this period and how Studio 80’s members worked collaboratively but also on their own works. I'd seen snippets of some of the stuff in this book before, but not so much together in one place—a great stepping stone.

Furniture pieces by the group, not only are the pieces WILD - the styling of the shoot and its beachy vibes really appealed to me - making the works look like crazy seaside pavilions

A Tokyo restaurant project by the group, one that I had never seen before opening the book, I was surprised by the apparent simplicity and confidence of the design.

A Tokyo project by the group, the use of lighting within the installed units is something I've always liked.

The Floating Tea Pavillion - what’s not to like

III. ‘Living Style & Living Ideas’ by Isa Vercelloni

Another book in a language I can't understand (a lot cheaper) and, again, an early one to the collection. Casa Vogue has always pumped a very elevated view of the interior landscape, and this compendium saves you from rummaging through hundreds of magazines.