27 Mar 2026
With “Beneath the Surface”, KAIA presents its first collaboration with French architect and designer Pauline Leprince. The collection unfolds as a series of sculptural metal and glass objects that explore the emotional and psychological depths that lie beyond appearances.
Developed through a close dialogue between KAIA‘s Creative Director Manuela Szewald and Pauline Leprince, the collaboration results in three minimalist pieces — a console, a mirror, and a lamp. Conceived as points of tension between the individual and society, the works question what exists beneath the visible surface: the hidden fractures, vulnerabilities, and silent forces that shape contemporary life.
At the centre of the collection is a deliberate transformation of material. Burnt metal, subjected to fire, undergoes an irreversible transformation. The act of burning is not an aesthetic gesture but a decisive intervention: fire inscribes itself into the surface, leaving the material marked, scarred, and permanently altered.
In contrast, glass introduces fragility and transparency. Within the collection, glass is not an expression of purity. It is a medium that exposes imperfection.
The console, "Under the Surface", is a precise composition of fired metal and textured glass. The glass panel is set into the centre, allowing light to pass through and illuminate from within. The contrast between the heavy metal and the glass element creates a balance between opacity and transparency.
Within the collection, the mirror, titled "Disarmed", moves beyond its traditional function. Constructed from planes of burnt metal, it unfolds into a restrained yet angular silhouette. The mirrored surface is partially veiled, recessed within the structure, revealing itself only in fragments.
The "Axis" table lamp is defined by the collection's materiality and balance of angular and curved lines. A glass panel sits beneath the top, diffusing the light and allowing it to glow evenly outward. The solid base anchors the piece, while the illuminated glass creates a clear, functional light for a tabletop setting.
“Beneath the Surface” consciously rejects the conventions of the decorative. The console mirror and lamp do not seek to soften or embellish space. Instead, they assert themselves as objects of presence and confrontation. The burnt metal surfaces carry the marks of transformation — traces that cannot be erased. Glass, meanwhile, remains poised at the edge of fracture, embodying the fragile balance between what is revealed and what remains concealed.
Through this collaboration, KAIA and Pauline Leprince present a collection that engages deeply with materiality and meaning.
The collection was unveiled at the annual Women in Design event on March 11, 2026, at the New York Design Centre. A curated group of New York architects and interior designers was invited to an exclusive presentation with the designer, Pauline Leprince, and KAIA's creative director, Manuela Szewald.
KAIA's New York showroom was completely transformed and enveloped in canvas and webbing straps, resembling straitjackets. The scenography symbolises the restraints that women still face in our modern-day society. The installation invites viewers to a necessary dialogue about what freedom and independence mean to women.
“Working with Pauline felt like a deeply profound connection — a shared understanding of sculptural, minimalist forms and impeccable craftsmanship," says Manuela Szewald, managing and creative director of KAIA. "The use of raw and fired metal returns the work to the soil, to origin and material truth, and ultimately to our inner selves. At the same time, it reveals vulnerability and fragility – qualities we rarely allow ourselves to show, particularly in the performative world of social media."
"These themes are deeply intertwined with the female experience and the ongoing struggle for women’s rights," she adds. "In times like these, design and art can make subtle yet resolute statements. They create space for dialogue and give voice where it is often hardest to be heard.”
Technical sheet
Collection: Beneath the Surface
Location: New York, New York
Manufacturer: KAIA
Designer: Pauline Leprince
Photography: Matthew Gordon
