Wabele Concrete Fireplace Collection
Trueform Concrete and designer Leyden Lewis present a sculptural series of concrete fireplace surrounds that blur the line between architecture and art.
“Design is the act of summoning and manifesting imagination into the material world...carrying ideas from the imagination into lived reality.”
— Leyden Lewis
Cultural Significance
"Wabele" refers to a ceremonial fire-spitting mask from West Africa’s Senufo tradition, representing strength, mystery, and ancestral wisdom. The collection echoes these themes through bold, geometric forms with symbolic weight.
Cultural Significance
Design Vision
The Wabele Surround Collection began as a sketch for a Brooklyn apartment in a 1920s Emery Roth building. Inspired by its Art Deco architecture, Lewis reimagined the form through an African-influenced, modernist cubist lens, honoring the space’s history while transforming it.
Design Vision
Wabele Concrete Fireplace Collection
Outward
- Symmetrical design with forms that extend outward from the firebox
- Four-piece construction with hearth stone
- Made from high-strength GFRC
- Handcrafted in New Jersey
- Available in 8 colors and 3 finishes
- Made to order; dimensions vary (shown: 8 ft length)
Outward
(Un)balanced
- Organic, asymmetrical form that subtly emerges from the wall
- Four-piece construction with hearth stone
- Made from high-strength GFRC
- Handcrafted in New Jersey
- Available in 8 colors and 3 finishes
- Made to order; dimensions vary (shown: 10 ft length)
(Un)balanced
Inward
- Symmetrical design with forms that curve inward toward the firebox
- Four-piece construction with hearth stone
- Made from high-strength GFRC
- Handcrafted in New Jersey
- Available in 8 colors and 3 finishes
- Made to order; dimensions vary (shown: 8 ft length)
Inward
AD100 Designer Leyden Lewis received his BFA in Architecture from Parsons School of Design. He continues to teach at Parsons and the New York School of Interior Design. Leyden’s aesthetic is rooted in a rich classical Modernism coupled with ancient traditions and methodologies. He operates from a deep interest in art and design history to tell new and modern stories. His practice engages cultures of both past and present and allows for a fluid integration between art, architecture, and design. As a fine artist, Leyden has exhibited at the Studio Museum in Harlem and at NYU’s 80WSE. He has the honor of being a Kip's Bay Decorator Show House alumnus. Leyden is a Founding Member of the Black Artists + Designer's Guild (BADG).
Start with Samples
Experience our materials firsthand. Order individual concrete samples or full sets to preview your chosen color and finish.
In the trade? Visit our Trade Pros page and sign up to receive your free sample set.
Start with Samples
Wabele Booklet
Download the PDF overview of the Wabele collection, including photos and line drawings.
Wabele Booklet