As curious collectors, Eli Phant and his wife Ella travel the globe collecting evidence of a handmade world– a world of creativity and ingenuity which exists everywhere, but which many people don’t even realize is there. A world where work and play intertwine and are sometimes indistinguishable, and where beauty and function are on friendly terms. This world is all around us, believe it or not, even now– you just need to look for it.
Exploring the studios, workshops and homes of crafters and artists, Eli and Ella document this fantastical world and bring back to Maine the objects, works of art, and inspirations they find in their journeys. In Portland, their good friends Peter Eiermann & Sally Struever manage the retail storefront and gallery which displays their collections.
Eli Phant opened in May of 2008 on Portland’s East End. We will soon be featuring monthly gallery shows, collections of designer products, and as always a sampling of our favorite finds.