About




Rafi Ajl (b.1983) is a Berkeley, California-based artist who is obsessed with form and process. He is driven by the possibilities of materiality, an insatiable curiosity, and an undisputed reverence for the pressures of the creative process. Working in an impressive variety of mediums and practices, Ajl is known for work under his longtime moniker, The Long Confidence, where he has created heirloom-worthy furniture and distinctive home objects.

Recently, Ajl has turned his focus to creating large-scale pieces that explore the rawness of material and push it past its limits. “I believe there is a world in every object around us,” he says.“I like to push the limits of material, find breaking points, the unexpected within––glass, bronze or ceramics ––whatever material is at hand.” Ajl’s approach is also deeply rooted in post-structuralist critical theory, which emphasizes that the process is never terminal but boundless and full of play.

Ajl studied literature and critical theory at Hampshire College, where he gained a foundation in post-structuralist critical theory, the Situationists, a prominent group of European intellectuals and avant-garde artists, and the German philosopher Walter Benjamin. 

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Ajl grew up in a deeply artistic home where making things was a way of life. He can scarcely recall a time when he wasn’t building and taking things apart, and cites his quilter mother, who taught him how to sew and about color, as an early influence. His house was an assemblage of folk art, antique furniture, and quilts, where brightly colored walls contrasted with parquet floors and neo-Victorian details. In 2012, Ajl graduated from the California College of the Arts with an MFA in Design.

Rafi also runs a small furniture studio, making tailored works in wood and metal, The Long Confidence. If he isn’t working, you’ll find him with his family, gardening, or perhaps both.

Inquiries: rafi@thelongconfidence.comSocial: Instagram
Media and press: studio@thelongconfidence.com udio



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