Intersect 21 Curatorial Selections: Melissa Benham, Principal of Studio Gild

As the L.A. based Principal of Studio Gild, Melissa Benham brings a well-cultivated approach to the interior design process, creating conceptually driven and expertly curated residential and commercial spaces. With experience in residential, hospitality, and retail design working with world-class brands such as André Balazs Properties, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Ralph Lauren and Kara Mann Design, Benham seeks to create interiors rooted in a strong narrative and individual style.

Here are Benham's picks from Intersect 21. Find her full bio and more information on her design projects is below.

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I’m completely enamored with the brilliantly conceived work of British/American artist, Anthony James, who’s based in Los Angeles. I had the good fortune to personally interact with his experiential installations at SOFA CHICAGO 2018, so my heart skipped a beat when I saw his sculptures featured in this exhibition by Intersect 21.

Anthony describes his approach as an attempt to bring an impossible concept like the idea of infinity into a physical existence. The futuristic sensibility and visually striking form of his sculptures are the initial draw, but the real magic happens up close and in person. The deft interplay of light and reflective surfaces allows for immeasurable ways to interact and manipulate the visual effect. Depending on the perspective from where you’re positioned, your own image comes in and out of view, sometimes reverberating infinitely. There’s something about harnessing endless possibilities that feels both powerful and optimistic, which I find particularly compelling during these times.

As the L.A. based Principal of Studio Gild, Melissa Benham brings a well-cultivated approach to the interior design process creating conceptually driven and expertly curated residential and commercial spaces. With experience in residential, hospitality, and retail design Working with world-class brands such as André Balazs Properties, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Ralph Lauren and Kara Mann Design, Benham seeks to create interiors rooted in a strong narrative and individual style.

Prior to embarking on her career in interior design, Benham held positions in fashion advertising and public relations in New York, where she honed a sartorial point of view that would eventually influence her approach to designing interior spaces. Benham has completed projects across the globe from North America to Europe to Asia.

Benham received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan and continued her education at Richmond, The American International University in London, where she studied interior design and photography. Benham went on to earn her Associate of Applied Arts in Interior Design from Parsons, The New School for Design in New York. Benham is also accredited as a LEED Green Associate.

Established in 2014 by co-founders Melissa Benham, Jennie Bishop, and Kristen Ekeland, Studio Gild draws inspiration from the principals’ shared love of clean architecture and subtle beauty. Their combined experience in commercial, retail, and residential design allows the collective to deliver refined interiors with enduring style.

Having fine-tuned a collaborative eye that Architectural Digest deemed versatile and sophisticated, the trio’s design approach fosters unique artisan and client relationships while embracing an emphasis on thoughtful detailing. It is the meticulous gilding of each project that serves as a reflection of the firm’s trademark aesthetic and namesake. The resulting environments are curated, provocative, and timeless.

Studio Gild has been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Domino, Dwell, Harper’s Bazaar, and The New York Times. With offices located in Chicago and Los Angeles, the design firm currently accepts projects from coast to coast.