Chocolates + Eye-Candy: The Mast Brothers Feature An Austere Sight Unseen

The Bros Behind the Magic

Rick and Michael Mast know what the people want. Since 2007, the New York-based (and Brooklyn & London-located) chocolate makers have been winning over taste buds around the world with their obsessive attention to detail, refined craftsmanship, and distinctly flavored products. Their chocolate bars, drinks, and confections are found on the menus of Thomas Keller, Daniel Humm, Eric Ripert, and Heston Blumenthal. The two even released their award-winning book, Mast Brothers Chocolate: A Family Cookbook, in 2013.

The Magic Behind The Scenes

Art may be a fun process, but it’s never a simple process. The process itself, is an art in its own right. Sight Unseen was founded in 2009 by respected design journalists Jill Singer and Monica Khemsurov, to invite audiences into that process, of creating design, art, fashion, and photography. The two also curate exhibitions, produce and co-host events, and provide branding and marketing services for a variety of clients, including The Ace Hotel, Shinola, Refinery29, Urban Outfitters, The Standard Hotel, Karlssons Gold Vodka, Creatures of Comfort, Lincoln, IKEA, and Etienne Aigner.

The Scene to Change The Seen

Austere pushes the envelope for how work is showcased – the showroom is a “a magazine you can walk into.” The 5,000 square foot space opened in DTLA in 2014, in a way that is more raw, allowing for the conception for design to align with the perception of it. Austere allows for flourishing ideas, catalysts in creative synergy, and conversations that allow for never-before-seen innovation, in industries from design, fashion, beauty, and hospitality to technology and entertainment.

The Culmination

Site Specific LA Exhibition of Contemporary Los Angeles Design, curated by Sight Unseen, recently made its debut at Austere Mast Brothers on December 5th. The in-store installation and shop-in-shop will continue through Valentine’s Day of 2016 (just in time to snag the limited edition Toasted Milk Bar for your s/o).

Site Specific LA will showcase a curated selection of new furniture and products by Sight Unseen, including AQQ Design, B.Zippy, Ben Medansky, Brendan Ravenhill, Eric Trine, Jonathan Zawada, Michael Felix, Only Love is Real, Ouli, Tanya Aguiniga and Waka Waka. The exhibition will also include a brand new collaboration between Trine and Medansky created for, and set to debut at, Site Specific LA and a collaboration between Shin Okuda of Waka Waka and Silver Lake boutique Dream Collective.

“Based in Downtown Los Angeles, the heart of the city’s burgeoning creative community, Austere is about honoring great design and great designers,” said Fredrik Carlström, founder of Austere. “Sight Unseen is the preeminent forum for discovering new design talent, and we could not imagine a better curatorial voice for our first ever exhibition of L.A. design.”

Visit, yourself:

Austere
912 South Hill Street
Los Angeles, CA 90015
www.austere.co

Hours:
Monday – Tuesday: by appointment only
Wednesday – Thursday: 11am-6pm
Friday – Saturday: 11am-7pm
Closed Sundays