Afternoon Light was the rebranded followup to 2025’s Mart Nouveau / Shelter design fair. The 2026 edition also changed location to the WSA building in Lower Manhattan. Spanning two floors, the fair felt intimate within the former office building than the sprawling Starrett-Lehigh Building.

The fair overall was more like an extension of Wanted, a mix of established brands and new talent. Javits alums Loose Parts, Phase and Stickbulb each showcased new pieces. Rarify, in addition to the Bauhaus exhibit at Javits, presented modular lighting by Christian Borger that’s designed to be easily disassembled for recycling. Additionally they debuted the SOM79 chair in the lobby color bathed in red.

Easily missed but most dramatic was the listening room collaboration by Symbol and USM I sneak previewed during a site visit. The impressive wall unit includes new speaker panels developed by Symbol that perfectly fit within USM’s modular system. It was a nice spot to hang out in and give my eyes and feet a rest.

Photos and Text: Dave Pinter