#BeOpenART #BeOpenNEWS
BE OPEN Art is pleased to announce Sayda Shukri as the March Regional Artist of the Month in the Northeastern Africa stage of its 2026 global art competition. Sayda Shukri is a young self-taught artist from Sudan whose work celebrates the richness of Sudanese cultural heritage.
As the third monthly winner in this regional stage, Sayda Shukri now joins January winner Reem Aljeally and February winner Aissa Joud in the run for the title of Regional Artist of Northeastern Africa, to be announced at the end of April. Running from January through April, this stage recognizes outstanding emerging artists from across the region, including Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Egypt, and Madagascar. The selected Regional Winner will receive a €500 cash prize and increased international visibility through the BE OPEN Art platform.
BE OPEN Art is pleased to announce Sayda Shukri as the March Regional Artist of the Month in the Northeastern Africa stage of its 2026 global art competition. Sayda Shukri is a young self-taught artist from Sudan whose work celebrates the richness of Sudanese cultural heritage.
As the third monthly winner in this regional stage, Sayda Shukri now joins January winner Reem Aljeally and February winner Aissa Joud in the run for the title of Regional Artist of Northeastern Africa, to be announced at the end of April. Running from January through April, this stage recognizes outstanding emerging artists from across the region, including Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Libya, Egypt, and Madagascar. The selected Regional Winner will receive a €500 cash prize and increased international visibility through the BE OPEN Art platform.
#BeOpenARCH
The Underground House of the Future in Zhangbian Township reimagines the traditional dikengyuan courtyard dwelling for a changing climate. Led by John Lin, Olivier Ottevaere, and Lidia Ratoi from University of Hong Kong, the project adapts the centuries-old underground housing typology using community collaboration, brick vaults, and large-scale 3D-printed earth. Its central courtyard becomes a stepped amphitheater with improved drainage and a tensile canopy, preserving the thermal comfort and agricultural land use of loess homes while making the space resilient to extreme rainfall and suitable for village gatherings.
The Underground House of the Future in Zhangbian Township reimagines the traditional dikengyuan courtyard dwelling for a changing climate. Led by John Lin, Olivier Ottevaere, and Lidia Ratoi from University of Hong Kong, the project adapts the centuries-old underground housing typology using community collaboration, brick vaults, and large-scale 3D-printed earth. Its central courtyard becomes a stepped amphitheater with improved drainage and a tensile canopy, preserving the thermal comfort and agricultural land use of loess homes while making the space resilient to extreme rainfall and suitable for village gatherings.
#BeOpenARCH
At Trompenburg Arboretum, Walden Studio created Bolster, a pod-like timber pavilion for the Voedselbos De Overtuin. Inspired by the protective shells of chestnuts and pinecones, its oak façade panels lift upward to form canopies, revealing storage, benches, a sink, and a composting toilet. Built largely from locally sourced, salvaged, and recycled materials, the hexagonal structure opens to support outdoor activity while closing into a compact wooden form that protects its contents and blends into the forest landscape.
At Trompenburg Arboretum, Walden Studio created Bolster, a pod-like timber pavilion for the Voedselbos De Overtuin. Inspired by the protective shells of chestnuts and pinecones, its oak façade panels lift upward to form canopies, revealing storage, benches, a sink, and a composting toilet. Built largely from locally sourced, salvaged, and recycled materials, the hexagonal structure opens to support outdoor activity while closing into a compact wooden form that protects its contents and blends into the forest landscape.
#BeOpenDESIGN
American interior designer Kelly Wearstler made her first musical instrument with Timbra, a rimless grand piano created for Edelweiss Pianos. Drawing inspiration from natural forms like sand dunes and flowing water, Wearstler designed the piano with undulating, curvaceous edges that extend to the lid, body, legs, and accompanying curved timber stool, emphasizing fluidity and movement in both form and sound. CNC-milled birch veneer was selected for its acoustic qualities and expressive grain, while the soundboard uses Sitka spruce supported by a patented welded steel frame. Available in six translucent finishes, Timbra embodies Wearstler’s philosophy of designing with the instrument rather than around it, creating a sculptural presence that transforms a space while respecting the piano’s inherent acoustic logic.
American interior designer Kelly Wearstler made her first musical instrument with Timbra, a rimless grand piano created for Edelweiss Pianos. Drawing inspiration from natural forms like sand dunes and flowing water, Wearstler designed the piano with undulating, curvaceous edges that extend to the lid, body, legs, and accompanying curved timber stool, emphasizing fluidity and movement in both form and sound. CNC-milled birch veneer was selected for its acoustic qualities and expressive grain, while the soundboard uses Sitka spruce supported by a patented welded steel frame. Available in six translucent finishes, Timbra embodies Wearstler’s philosophy of designing with the instrument rather than around it, creating a sculptural presence that transforms a space while respecting the piano’s inherent acoustic logic.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Created by Heatherwick Studio for British lighting brand Tala, the Wake lamp reimagines the alarm clock as a calming lighting object rather than a disruptive bedside gadget. The device mimics the natural progression of sunrise and sunset, gradually increasing light in the morning to wake users gently and fading to warm amber tones in the evening to encourage sleep. The lamp conceals its technology within a sculptural body made from hand-glazed ceramic and mouth-blown glass, eliminating visible buttons or screens. Instead, users interact with the rippled ceramic base by rotating and pressing it to adjust settings, allowing the product to maintain a sense of analogue calm while integrating features such as white noise, customisable lighting and circadian-friendly illumination.
More unconventional alarm cloks on our blog.
Created by Heatherwick Studio for British lighting brand Tala, the Wake lamp reimagines the alarm clock as a calming lighting object rather than a disruptive bedside gadget. The device mimics the natural progression of sunrise and sunset, gradually increasing light in the morning to wake users gently and fading to warm amber tones in the evening to encourage sleep. The lamp conceals its technology within a sculptural body made from hand-glazed ceramic and mouth-blown glass, eliminating visible buttons or screens. Instead, users interact with the rippled ceramic base by rotating and pressing it to adjust settings, allowing the product to maintain a sense of analogue calm while integrating features such as white noise, customisable lighting and circadian-friendly illumination.
More unconventional alarm cloks on our blog.
#BeOpenDESIGN
KFC has entered the novelty fashion arena with the Pickle Puffer, a one-off transparent jacket filled with real sliced gherkins and bright green brine instead of traditional down. Designed as a playful tribute to pickle-obsessed fans, the jacket features a pickle-shaped zipper pull, KFC branding, and a hydration-style tube that allows the wearer to sip pickle juice directly from the garment while on the go. The absurd concept was reportedly inspired by an AI-generated video circulating online that imagined a pickle-filled coat, which quickly sparked curiosity about whether such a piece could exist in real life. KFC turned the joke into reality as part of a campaign promoting its new pickle-themed menu in the UK, transforming internet humor into a bizarre yet memorable piece of wearable marketing.
More food-inspired novelty outerwear on our blog.
KFC has entered the novelty fashion arena with the Pickle Puffer, a one-off transparent jacket filled with real sliced gherkins and bright green brine instead of traditional down. Designed as a playful tribute to pickle-obsessed fans, the jacket features a pickle-shaped zipper pull, KFC branding, and a hydration-style tube that allows the wearer to sip pickle juice directly from the garment while on the go. The absurd concept was reportedly inspired by an AI-generated video circulating online that imagined a pickle-filled coat, which quickly sparked curiosity about whether such a piece could exist in real life. KFC turned the joke into reality as part of a campaign promoting its new pickle-themed menu in the UK, transforming internet humor into a bizarre yet memorable piece of wearable marketing.
More food-inspired novelty outerwear on our blog.
#BeOpenNEWS #BeOpenART
BE OPEN Art is pleased to announce Laryea Enoch Nii Adjei, also known as Sage, as the Artist of the Month for March 2026. Based in Accra, Ghana, Sage is a multidisciplinary artist working across painting, ceramics, illustration, graffiti, and sculpture. A professional clay sculptor since 2012, he experiments with diverse materials including local Ghanaian clay, cement, fiberglass, spray paint, acrylic, oil, charcoal, pastel, pencil, and ink, while exploring themes of cultural identity and social dialogue inspired by imagination, culture, and nature.
Each month, BE OPEN Art presents 20 artists and invites the public to vote for their favourite. At the end of 2026, the Artist of the Year, selected from the monthly winners, will receive a €1,000 cash prize and promotional support. We warmly congratulate Sage on this well-deserved recognition and thank him for his inspiring contribution to the BE OPEN Art community.
BE OPEN Art is pleased to announce Laryea Enoch Nii Adjei, also known as Sage, as the Artist of the Month for March 2026. Based in Accra, Ghana, Sage is a multidisciplinary artist working across painting, ceramics, illustration, graffiti, and sculpture. A professional clay sculptor since 2012, he experiments with diverse materials including local Ghanaian clay, cement, fiberglass, spray paint, acrylic, oil, charcoal, pastel, pencil, and ink, while exploring themes of cultural identity and social dialogue inspired by imagination, culture, and nature.
Each month, BE OPEN Art presents 20 artists and invites the public to vote for their favourite. At the end of 2026, the Artist of the Year, selected from the monthly winners, will receive a €1,000 cash prize and promotional support. We warmly congratulate Sage on this well-deserved recognition and thank him for his inspiring contribution to the BE OPEN Art community.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Created by Kosuke Tsumura under Miyake Design Studio, FINAL HOME reimagines clothing as portable shelter. Its iconic Home1 parka uses 44 pockets within a translucent nylon shell that can be filled with everyday materials - newspapers, clothes, tools - to create insulation, storage, and protection. Developed in 1994 and influenced by cyberpunk culture, the project merges fashion, architecture, and survival, proposing garments as adaptable infrastructures for a world shaped by disasters, displacement, and climate uncertainty.
Created by Kosuke Tsumura under Miyake Design Studio, FINAL HOME reimagines clothing as portable shelter. Its iconic Home1 parka uses 44 pockets within a translucent nylon shell that can be filled with everyday materials - newspapers, clothes, tools - to create insulation, storage, and protection. Developed in 1994 and influenced by cyberpunk culture, the project merges fashion, architecture, and survival, proposing garments as adaptable infrastructures for a world shaped by disasters, displacement, and climate uncertainty.
#BeOpenDESIGN
Developed by Dutch studio Modem and Swiss studio Retinaa, the Quartz ring is a conceptual wearable designed to counter the rise of Deepfake impersonation. Inspired by the symbolism of historic signet rings, the device verifies identity through a physical handshake: when two rings touch, NFC technology creates an encrypted “shared secret.” Finger-vein biometrics, pulse detection, and a unique quartz stone identifier secure the user’s identity, allowing the paired individuals to later confirm each other during online or phone interactions using cryptographic verification.
Developed by Dutch studio Modem and Swiss studio Retinaa, the Quartz ring is a conceptual wearable designed to counter the rise of Deepfake impersonation. Inspired by the symbolism of historic signet rings, the device verifies identity through a physical handshake: when two rings touch, NFC technology creates an encrypted “shared secret.” Finger-vein biometrics, pulse detection, and a unique quartz stone identifier secure the user’s identity, allowing the paired individuals to later confirm each other during online or phone interactions using cryptographic verification.
#BeOpenDESIGN
JXY Studio’s Art-Chitecture system reimagines furniture as an active participant in shaping space rather than as static objects. By combining chairs, lighting, and shelving into a modular framework, the system allows individual components to maintain their functionality while contributing to larger architectural configurations. Standardized connection methods and dimensional modules make assembly simple and repeatable, while stacking, repetition, and recombination enable the furniture to adapt to changing spatial needs. Beyond supporting human activity, the open structures can accommodate plants or small animals, blurring the line between functional objects, sculptural forms, and environmental features. This approach positions furniture as a medium of spatial expression, capable of influencing the organization and atmosphere of a room, and exploring the intersection of product design, architecture, and modular experimentation.
JXY Studio’s Art-Chitecture system reimagines furniture as an active participant in shaping space rather than as static objects. By combining chairs, lighting, and shelving into a modular framework, the system allows individual components to maintain their functionality while contributing to larger architectural configurations. Standardized connection methods and dimensional modules make assembly simple and repeatable, while stacking, repetition, and recombination enable the furniture to adapt to changing spatial needs. Beyond supporting human activity, the open structures can accommodate plants or small animals, blurring the line between functional objects, sculptural forms, and environmental features. This approach positions furniture as a medium of spatial expression, capable of influencing the organization and atmosphere of a room, and exploring the intersection of product design, architecture, and modular experimentation.
Dear Friends of BE OPEN Art,
Please beware of the scammers impersonating the gallery.
BE OPEN Art never requests any personal data from the listed artists or other visitors. Only emails coming from the @beopenfuture.com domain may be considered as sent by BE OPEN Art.
In case of any doubt or concern, please verify the contents of such emails by forwarding them to press@beopenfuture.com
Please beware of the scammers impersonating the gallery.
BE OPEN Art never requests any personal data from the listed artists or other visitors. Only emails coming from the @beopenfuture.com domain may be considered as sent by BE OPEN Art.
In case of any doubt or concern, please verify the contents of such emails by forwarding them to press@beopenfuture.com
#BeOpenART #BeOpenNEWS
The Art Limitless programme within the BE OPEN Art online gallery is happy to announce Justine Watt, a sculptor based in the United Kingdom, as the February 2026 monthly winner. Watt works across installation, sculpture, and contemporary craft. By reworking materials that have reached the end of their functional life, she creates modular sculptural forms that can be assembled and reassembled in different ways, reflecting ideas of renewal and transformation.
Art Limitless is a programme within the BE OPEN Art platform exploring sustainability in the arts. Each month, a winning artist is selected and featured in the online gallery. At the end of the year, three artists will be chosen from the monthly winners by members of the BE OPEN community to receive monetary awards and greater international visibility from the BE OPEN Foundation.
The Art Limitless programme within the BE OPEN Art online gallery is happy to announce Justine Watt, a sculptor based in the United Kingdom, as the February 2026 monthly winner. Watt works across installation, sculpture, and contemporary craft. By reworking materials that have reached the end of their functional life, she creates modular sculptural forms that can be assembled and reassembled in different ways, reflecting ideas of renewal and transformation.
Art Limitless is a programme within the BE OPEN Art platform exploring sustainability in the arts. Each month, a winning artist is selected and featured in the online gallery. At the end of the year, three artists will be chosen from the monthly winners by members of the BE OPEN community to receive monetary awards and greater international visibility from the BE OPEN Foundation.
#BeOpenART #BeOpenNEWS
The Art Limitless programme within the BE OPEN Art online gallery proudly announces Robert Oniha as the March 2026 monthly winner. Oniha is an emerging Nigerian artist known for surreal portraits created with charcoal, pastel, paint, and fabric. His portraits draw attention to traditional hairstyles, clothing, and artistic customs that risk disappearing under the influence of colonial legacies and rapid cultural change.
Throughout 2026, BE OPEN continues to highlight artists whose work reflects sustainable approaches to artistic practice. Each month, a winning artist is selected and featured in the online gallery, and at the end of the year three artists will be chosen from the monthly winners by members of the BE OPEN community to receive monetary awards and increased international visibility from the BE OPEN Foundation.
The Art Limitless programme within the BE OPEN Art online gallery proudly announces Robert Oniha as the March 2026 monthly winner. Oniha is an emerging Nigerian artist known for surreal portraits created with charcoal, pastel, paint, and fabric. His portraits draw attention to traditional hairstyles, clothing, and artistic customs that risk disappearing under the influence of colonial legacies and rapid cultural change.
Throughout 2026, BE OPEN continues to highlight artists whose work reflects sustainable approaches to artistic practice. Each month, a winning artist is selected and featured in the online gallery, and at the end of the year three artists will be chosen from the monthly winners by members of the BE OPEN community to receive monetary awards and increased international visibility from the BE OPEN Foundation.
#BeOpenART
Kelly Akashi’s Monument (Altadena) transforms the familiar silhouette of a house chimney into a luminous memorial to loss and rebuilding after the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Constructed from 821 hand-cast glass bricks, the sculpture recreates one of the few architectural elements that often remain standing after homes burn, referencing the charred landscapes of Altadena and Pacific Palisades. Akashi, who lost her own 1926 home and studio in the fire, uses translucent glass instead of traditional masonry to destabilize the idea of permanence, allowing light to pass through a form normally associated with solidity.
Striking memorials and monuments on our blog.
Kelly Akashi’s Monument (Altadena) transforms the familiar silhouette of a house chimney into a luminous memorial to loss and rebuilding after the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. Constructed from 821 hand-cast glass bricks, the sculpture recreates one of the few architectural elements that often remain standing after homes burn, referencing the charred landscapes of Altadena and Pacific Palisades. Akashi, who lost her own 1926 home and studio in the fire, uses translucent glass instead of traditional masonry to destabilize the idea of permanence, allowing light to pass through a form normally associated with solidity.
Striking memorials and monuments on our blog.
#BeOpenDESIGN
The Golden Ei chicken coop by Einhuhn Design reimagines poultry housing as a compact piece of garden architecture. Designed to host up to six chickens, the minimal geometric structure is wrapped in reflective golden surfaces that subtly interact with the surrounding landscape. Behind the striking exterior, the coop prioritizes animal welfare and everyday practicality. A double facade diffuses natural light and supports rear ventilation, while continuous ventilation slats maintain steady airflow without drafts. Smooth surfaces simplify cleaning and maintenance, allowing the design to merge elegance with function. The result transforms a humble chicken coop into a refined architectural object that balances beauty, usability, and thoughtful care for the animals.
More design-minded chicken coops on our blog.
The Golden Ei chicken coop by Einhuhn Design reimagines poultry housing as a compact piece of garden architecture. Designed to host up to six chickens, the minimal geometric structure is wrapped in reflective golden surfaces that subtly interact with the surrounding landscape. Behind the striking exterior, the coop prioritizes animal welfare and everyday practicality. A double facade diffuses natural light and supports rear ventilation, while continuous ventilation slats maintain steady airflow without drafts. Smooth surfaces simplify cleaning and maintenance, allowing the design to merge elegance with function. The result transforms a humble chicken coop into a refined architectural object that balances beauty, usability, and thoughtful care for the animals.
More design-minded chicken coops on our blog.
#BeOpenDESIGN
California-based creative studio Designers on Holiday (DOH Studio) has designed a solar-powered “chicken caravan” for the Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano. The mobile coop allows hens to roam fresh ground while supporting regenerative farming. Built on wheels and light enough to move by hand or tow by tractor, the aluminum-clad structure reflects heat and features fold-out “wings” that provide shade and ventilation. A solar panel powers an automated door that opens at sunrise and closes at sunset, while a portable fence keeps hens safe from predators. By relocating the coop across harvested plots, chickens feed on leftover scraps, fertilize the soil, and help prepare the land for the next planting cycle.
California-based creative studio Designers on Holiday (DOH Studio) has designed a solar-powered “chicken caravan” for the Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano. The mobile coop allows hens to roam fresh ground while supporting regenerative farming. Built on wheels and light enough to move by hand or tow by tractor, the aluminum-clad structure reflects heat and features fold-out “wings” that provide shade and ventilation. A solar panel powers an automated door that opens at sunrise and closes at sunset, while a portable fence keeps hens safe from predators. By relocating the coop across harvested plots, chickens feed on leftover scraps, fertilize the soil, and help prepare the land for the next planting cycle.