Peter Harvey
“In the future, furniture design will be considered alongside sculpture, painting and poetry as a fine art – one that combines all the technical virtuosity and mechanical skill these disciplines often lack. Peter Harvey’s designs show this hybrid in its purest form – his manufacturing processes and inspiration lie midway between aeronautics and anatomy, where human and mechanical forms are merged to create the ultimate machines for sitting on, in and around.”
Peter Harvey is one of Great Britain’s most innovative designers. He has gained an international reputation with sculptural furniture and lighting creations of the greatest technical precision.
The connections between surrealism, amorphous forms and design are ever prevalent in his work. He works with historical reference where he seeks a revival in the spirit of late 60's and 70's Pop and the enthusiasm of spirit that came with such movements. He is inspired by the joy and fun that can be found in life, design and art and sees how the body can become an agent for the senses to be ignited. Creating a better life though design and using the objects we surround ourselves with to lift our mood, are reoccurring themes in all his works.
Peter’s work has featured in the prestigious international Art Fairs such as Art Basel, Miami and the Milan Furniture show. Also a participant in International exhibitions such as SaloneSatellite in Milan and the Design + Emotion at the Badisches Landesmuseum Karlsruhe Germany. Smile Chair was recently invited to become part of the Cosmit Eventi Permanent Design Collection.
2007: SaloniSatellite – 'Avverati a Dream Come True' a Show Within a Show - Milan International Furniture Fair exhibition of Smile + Tongue-in-Cheek designer’s proof.
2007: Phillips de Pury & Company successful auction of Tongue-in-Cheek original model hand made by the designer.
2008: : “Emotional Design – Products Stirring Emotions?” Badisches Landesmuseum, Karlsruhe, Germany.
2009: Cosmit Eventi Permanent Design Collection Milan, procurement of Smile chair by PHL.
2009: Opening of Gormann Gallery
2009: Contemporary Continent Exhibition opens as part of the DMY International Design festival 2009.
"...In true surrealist fashion, Harvey has also created the Tongue-in-Cheek chair, in Paloma Picasso lipstick red, to sit alongside his two initial oral pieces. Women look immediately provocative, sensual and appealing when they use it. Transient and suggestive, this sculptural piece metamorphoses into various forms and shapes, taking on imaginary outlines, according to the inclination of the viewer.
All furniture is functional but few designers have the unique vision to create technically precise pieces, which are also mind altering. What Peter Harvey is moving towards is a new language in furniture design, where form no longer simply follows function, but is inspired by and takes on the ergonomics of the human body form."
—Victoria O’Brien, design journalist, THE TIMES