Brooklyn artist Thomas Barger has created a series of furniture pieces based on his childhood experiences in Illinois, which are on show at New York's Salon 94 Design gallery.

The Growing Up exhibition is a coming-of-age showcase for the 25-year-old artist, who grew up on a farm in Illinois and moved to New York three years ago.

"My furniture is turning into sculpture," said Barger. "Since 'coming out' to my family last winter I have been reflecting more than ever about my childhood experiences."
"Each piece seems to be split down the middle with an equal focus on a love element and a utilitarian one," he added. "This body of work embraces my past as I enter into adulthood."

The designs on show at Salon 94 Design, on Manhattan's Lower East Side, are all connected to places and rituals Barger remembers from his time in the Midwest.
For example, curvaceous chairs with chunky legs, rounded handles and irregular perforations are modelled on sand formations he used to see at a nearby creek.

Barger's creations also bear exaggerated, childish shapes: a throne-like seat has a perforated, tall wonky back that resembles a potato waffle. There is also a similar smaller version, while other designs include curvilinear handles and tubular legs.

With these bulky, irregular forms in block hues of green, yellow and pastel pink, the series follows a trend for cartoonish furniture that emerged last year.

Barger created the shapes by applying &...