GULFSHORE LIFE: Furniture and Art Shaped by Hand in Southwest Florida

Gulfshore Life
Gulfshore Life
published on January 10, 2026

Museum Bench by Chad Jensen, Method & Concept
Naples and Fort Myers makers reveal how patience, process and natural materials give objects lasting presence.

As AI speeds production and smooths edges across industries, these Southwest Florida makers are moving in the opposite direction. In Naples, Chad Jensen hand-numbers walnut benches limited to 100 pieces. PJ White applies thousands of dots individually with an acrylic dropper over 100 hours. Fort Myers’ Christine Cutting calculates shrinkage on hand-built ceramic sconces through trial and error.

The furniture, lighting and home decor emerging from Naples and Fort Myers studios prove that the most compelling designs still come from human touch, experimentation and time.

Chad Jensen has long been a shaping force in Southwest Florida’s contemporary art and design scene. He recently relocated Method & Concept gallery to the Thomas Riley Artisans’ Guild campus in North Naples, giving him the space to return to his roots as a maker. For the Museum Bench, Jensen set himself a 24-hour design challenge and let the materials dictate the form. Working with American black walnut, he began with the seat, designing around 12-inch boards—the widest stock he can reliably source for reproductions. A ceruse finish accentuates the grain, while a ceramic wax gives the surface warmth. The hand-stitched English bridle-leather sling provides functional space for catalogs and sketchbooks. Only 100 benches will be made, each one hand-numbered and marked with an insignia. “The beauty of wood [is] no two pieces are ever going to be identical,” Jensen says. “That’s the part of working with nature that I love.” methodandconcept.com

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Rosa Leon Riley

Operations Manager

Rosa manages operations for METHOD & CONCEPT art gallery and interior design projects. Attaining a master’s degree from The University of Florida, Rosa is multifaceted, showcasing her dynamic abilities as a maker with a proven business acumen. Notably, with knowledge of textiles, procurement and production, Rosa’s creative excellence and professionalism to the team and our clients is paramount.

Amy Jensen

Gallery Manager

At METHOD & CONCEPT, Amy is a champion for artists and coordinates season exhibitions and special events as well as outreach and community projects working closely with artists, collectors and community partners. Drawing from an arts education and two decades of experience working in the arts and for non-profit institutions, Amy actively advocates for arts & culture and enhanced quality of life through her work as Gallery Manager for METHOD & CONCEPT and in the local community.

Chad Jensen

Creative Director & Managing Partner

Chad Jensen is an artist, furniture maker, designer, and Founding Director of METHOD & CONCEPT. A passionate advocate for the arts, Jensen’s creative practice and curatorial vision reveal the symbiotic relationship between contemporary craft, fine art, and design.

In 2013, Jensen launched METHOD & CONCEPT in partnership with Thomas Riley Companies, merging his background in fine art and furniture design with a mission to elevate cultural dialogue in Southwest Florida. Today, the gallery represents over twenty international artists and maintains a design portfolio spanning bespoke furniture to legacy estates along the Gulf of Mexico and private island residences.

With more than twenty-five years of professional experience in art, interiors, and architecture, Jensen is a graduate of the College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit, holding degrees in Art and Business, with additional studies at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, New York. His work has been exhibited internationally—from The Baker Museum in Naples to ICFF New York and the Shanghai Art Fair—and featured in publications including Interior Design Magazine, Art Basel Guide–Miami, and Casa da Abitare (China). He has been recognized among Naples Illustrated’s Top 100 Business Leaders, Gulfshore Life’s Men & Women of the Year, and named one of Naples’ most discerning design curators.

A leader in arts and culture across Southwest Florida, Jensen is a Founding Director of the Naples Design District and serves on multiple advisory boards including United Arts Collier (UAC), Florida Gulf Coast University’s Bower School of Music & the Arts, and Naples Illustrated Magazine. He is a frequent guest speaker and juror at FGCU and has contributed to accreditation committees for digital media and design education.