In an unexpected yet captivating fusion of high-performance engineering and radical artistic vision, MSCHF and Mercedes-AMG have unveiled a striking sculptural furniture collection that transforms automotive components into provocative design pieces. Showcased at NYCxDesign 2025, the collaboration marks a new chapter in cross-industry experimentation—one that blurs the line between function, form, and fantasy.
Titled “MSCHF x AMG: Not for Automotive Use,” the exhibition pushes the boundaries of material transformation, imagination, and irreverence. Hosted at MSCHF’s Brooklyn studio—a location typically closed to the public—the show ran from May 14 to May 17 and captured the attention of both the design and automotive communities.
Though the event has passed, the collection’s impact continues to reverberate across global design forums, social platforms, and editorial pages, drawing attention to the powerful synergy between engineering precision and avant-garde creativity.
From Performance Engineering to Radical Form
The foundation of this collaboration lies in the core philosophy of radical design. Drawing inspiration from the 1960s Italian Radical Design movement, the pieces repurpose authentic AMG car parts into aesthetically bold, functional (or deliberately non-functional) furniture items. Think aerodynamic spoilers turned into minimalist benches, alloy wheels reimagined as base columns for futuristic lighting fixtures, and handcrafted leather interiors morphed into ergonomic lounge chairs.
Each item is intentionally one-of-a-kind—crafted not as a mass-market product but as an artistic provocation. According to the creators, the purpose is not utility but commentary. The transformation of utilitarian car parts into design sculptures is both a celebration and a satire of the objects we idolize in modern culture.
“It’s not furniture—it’s sculpture with a wink,” said a spokesperson from MSCHF. “We took AMG’s intense focus on speed, torque, and performance and rewired it into pieces that ask: what if this power had nowhere to go?”
Highlights from the MSCHF x AMG Collection
Here are some of the standout pieces from the collection:
1. The Torque Chair
Crafted from a real AMG carbon fiber driveshaft, the chair balances engineering-grade strength with artistic whimsy. Its structure mimics the angular symmetry of racing components while remaining visually ironic—inviting the user to sit in what is usually a violently rotating object.
2. Piston Trash Bin
Featuring upcycled V8 engine pistons, this satirical trash bin playfully suggests throwing away performance—or perhaps society’s obsession with speed and luxury.
3. Engine Block Coffee Table
A centerpiece made from a real AMG engine block, this table sits under a tempered glass sheet. The block’s complex machinery becomes a geometric sculpture when viewed from above.
4. Spoiler Bench
This sleek bench uses an AMG rear spoiler as the primary support, set against brushed steel legs. A metaphor for how speed, when paused, becomes design.
5. Brake Disc Wall Clock
Crafted from actual ventilated brake rotors, this timepiece slows down what was built to stop fast—an ironic nod to time, movement, and permanence.
Design Meets Engineering Meets Satire
MSCHF has long been known for its provocative and culturally resonant projects—from disruptive sneakers to absurd tech gadgets. Mercedes-AMG, on the other hand, represents the epitome of German engineering excellence and high-performance luxury.
Their partnership is symbolic. It reflects a larger shift in how traditional industries like automotive and design are colliding to forge multi-sensory, cross-disciplinary experiences. The result? Not just aesthetic satisfaction, but dialogue.
By calling the collection “Not for Automotive Use,” MSCHF and AMG set the tone for intentional contradiction. These objects, derived from machines designed to perform, now sit inert—commenting on over-consumption, material obsession, and the transformation of function into pure form.
Affalterbach’s Irony in a Fragrance
The collaboration didn’t end with furniture. Extending their narrative of absurd luxury, the team unveiled a custom-designed fragrance tree—shaped like an apple tree, nodding to AMG’s hometown of Affalterbach (derived from “Affalter,” meaning apple tree in Old German).
The scent itself is a blend of mechanical oils, high-octane fuel notes, and leather undertones—another intentional satire of how smell can be commodified into status.
Limited-Edition Apparel and Accessories
Visitors to the exhibition also had the chance to grab exclusive capsule apparel and performance accessories. Each piece featured detailed engine scans, exploded CAD diagrams, and blueprints directly from AMG’s design labs. Limited in quantity, the collection became instant collector’s items, selling out during the event’s three-day public window.
This capsule line extended the fusion of fashion, automotive engineering, and artistic rebellion, allowing fans to wear the MSCHF x AMG ethos.
Exhibition Hours and Opening Night Event
The show opened with a private party on May 14, attended by industry influencers, art critics, automotive engineers, and celebrities from New York’s elite design scene. The main exhibition remained open to the public from May 15 to 17, between 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. each day.
This marked the first time MSCHF opened its studio to the general public, giving fans and enthusiasts a rare glimpse into the brand’s creative ecosystem.
A Legacy Beyond the Show Dates
Even though the physical exhibition has closed, the MSCHF and Mercedes-AMG collaboration has left a lasting mark. In a world where industries tend to stay in their lanes, this project proves that unexpected partnerships can challenge conventions and ignite powerful cultural commentary.
From concept design blogs to global media outlets, the exhibition continues to gain attention. Design schools and architecture critics have cited the project as a modern example of post-functionalism—where the narrative of an object overshadows its original purpose.
Why This Collaboration Matters
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It challenges material expectations. AMG’s ultra-performance parts become visual jokes, sculptures, and symbols.
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It encourages sustainability through upcycling. Instead of discarding retired components, MSCHF immortalizes them through design.
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It expands the definition of design. Not just about function or aesthetics, but philosophy, humor, and critique.
What’s Next for MSCHF and AMG?
While neither party has confirmed future collaborations, insiders suggest this could be the start of a long-term exploration of performance art and industrial design. With MSCHF’s growing status as a cultural disruptor and AMG’s heritage of precision, the pairing could evolve into limited-edition product drops, concept cars as art installations, or even architectural projects.
For now, the MSCHF x AMG collection exists as a radical statement—an ode to contradiction, satire, and the raw beauty of recontextualized performance.
Conclusion
The MSCHF and Mercedes-AMG collaboration at NYCxDesign 2025 has proven that high-speed performance and radical art can co-exist—not just on roads, but in galleries, studios, and living rooms. Through repurposed engineering and artistic irony, the exhibition challenges the role of design in modern society.
As the lines between industry, art, and commerce continue to blur, collaborations like this set a new standard for creative disruption. In the world of sculptural furniture, this isn’t just a seat or a table—it’s a conversation.
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