Collecting PAUL EVANS

COLLECTING DESIGN History Collections Highlights

A part of an ongoing series on collecting design, which is produced in conjunction with a program at the New York School of Interior Design “Collecting Design: History, Collections, Highlights,” this film focuses on American furniture maker and designer Paul Evans.

It comes to tell the story of a radical metalsmith who created new and provocative type furniture that came to change the face of furniture design in mid-century America. The furniture has been sought by collectors worldwide since the market for Evans’ work emerged around the year 2000. While Americans were the first to discover Evans' expressive and sculptural pieces, his work is collected today in Europe, Asia, and South America, and his pieces illustrate catalogues of some of best design auctions in the world. We seek to tell Evans’ story and to examine Evans' artistic language and the emergence of the market of his complex work. His artistic language was radical and personal, moving from Brutalism to Pop, from Op Art to Minimalism, to Streamlining. It spanned biomorphic and geometrical forms; featured from the Expressive to the abstract; from the architectural to the decorative; from rough textures to sleek, gleaming surfaces; from individual, handcrafted objects, to serial production.

The film was created by design historian Dr. Daniella Ohad, featuring some of the world best experts that share their passion, experience, and expertise with those seeking to understand Evans’ work and with those looking to acquire his pieces in today's market: Tony Ingrao, Glenn Adamson, Dorsey Reading, Keith Evans, Joe Yurkic, James Zemaitis, and film maker Mihalis Gripiotis. The film is supported by the New York School of Interior Design, Rago Auctions, Cultured Magazine, DeTnk, and The ROW.