How a Radical 18th Century Religious Sect Became a Design Force to Be Reckoned With

Because they believed that the quality of their craftsmanship revealed their devotion to God, the Shakers developed a distinct material culture, situated somewhere between traditional crafts and modern design. The exhibition “A World in the Making: The Shakers” arrives at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia on Jan. 31 to explore the design implications of their radically egalitarian lifestyle. Co-organized with the Vitra Design Museum, the Milwaukee Art Museum, the Wüstenrot Foundation, and Shaker Museum, it presents a lost American utopia through furniture, clothing, tools, and architectural pieces, including an immersive reimagining of a Shaker meeting house.

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