OAKLAND, CALIF. — Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) Off Site is presenting “Garry Knox Bennett: Preoccupations of a Serial Chairmaker” at Gallery 555 and the Sculpture Court in Oakland City Center through March 25. The furniture exhibition features a total of 43 chairs by renowned Alameda furniture maker Bennett.

The 15 chairs featured at the Sculpture Court are based on the iconic “Zigzag Chair,” which was designed and built in 1934 by Dutch architect Gerrit Reitveld. Bennett loves to work in series. Because he rarely brings preconceived notions to the construction of a piece, he sees each as an opportunity to develop innovative techniques. He is able to pursue alternative directions while gaining inspiration for new designs. Bennett explains, “I put pieces together in my head — I work out most of my designs at night instead of counting sheep. Then I come into the shop the next day and start sawing.”

The collection of 38 chairs at Gallery 555 is inspired by well-known furniture makers George Nakashima and Philippe Starck, architect Frank Lloyd Wright and some that are rooted purely in Bennett’s imagination. While several chairs are constructed mainly of wood, such as “Modified Nakashima” and “Modernized Nakashima,” others demonstrate his ability to bring together unexpected materials and colors. “Prototype #4 — Joe’s Chair” includes wood, aluminum, paint and upholstery in its construction. “Chair #857” combines wood, leather upholstery, 23K gold-plated brass, paint and an epoxy filled woven glass composite reinforced with glass fiber.

Bennett attended the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland from 1959 to 1961, studying painting and metal sculpture. By the early 1970s, Bennett began working with wood and developed a series of clocks using aluminum, brass and wood. The pieces were sold at the San Francisco department store Gump’s, thus cementing his role as a commercial artist and woodworker.

By the late 1970s, Bennett’s career as a furniture maker was fully established. Over the course of the next decade, Bennett pioneered the use of nontraditional materials in his furniture, including plywood, aluminum, brass, plastic and ColorCore Formica. His judicious use of material, color and paint is considered by many to be his main contribution to the furniture field. His skill in this regard is clearly apparent in many of the chairs in “Preoccupations of a Serial Chairmaker.”

Gallery 555 is located on the lobby level of 555 12th Street. The Sculpture Court is in the rear lobby of 1111 Broadway. For information, 510-238-6836 or www.museumca.org.