Zesty Meyers: How Two Artists Built R & Company from a Flea Market Hustle into a Design Empire

Zesty Meyers (co-founder of R & Company) joins Fernando Mastrangelo for a raw, inspiring conversation about his incredible 30+ year journey in the design world.

From performing with molten glass as part of the legendary B Team, to starting what later became R & Company with just $200 at the Chelsea Flea Market, to shaping the modern collectible design market — this episode is packed with philosophy, hard-earned lessons, and optimism for the future of craft and design.

Topics covered:

- The dying craft scene of the late ’80s and why they had to create their own path

- Turning a hobby into one of the most influential design galleries in the world

- Why most creatives only have one great idea, and why that’s worth celebrating

- The future of handmade objects in the age of AI and billionaires

- Longevity in creative careers, failure, and building real partnerships with artists

Notable Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro & Welcome

01:10 – Pilchuck Glass School & the Birth of the B Team

14:02 – Starting R & Company in 1997: The Flea Market Days

28:23 – Most People Only Have One Great Idea

32:02 – Bringing in Contemporary Artists (Jeff Zimmerman & Beyond)

43:48 – The Haas Brothers & Building Long Careers

50:36 – Year 11 Struggles: What No One Tells You About Creative Careers

53:06 – Why Handmade Objects Will Define New Wealth in the AI Age

61:02 – Brazilian Design Discovery & Building a Secondary Market

72:07 – Tribeca Space, Fairs & Refocusing the Gallery Program

82:53 – Final Thoughts: Raising Our Voice as a Design Community

If you’re a designer, artist, collector, or someone who loves stories of grit and creativity, this one will move you.

Subscribe for more deep dives into the design world!Leave a comment: What’s one lesson you’re taking from Zesty?

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