Paul WHO

Nov 28, 2010 | Designs and Designers

Paul Evans

Paul Evans (1931-1987) was one of the most versatile and unique artists of the Mid Century Studio Furniture Movement. His furniture creations were bold and dramatic. His furniture designs can best be described as functional art.

Paul Evans via Life CIRCA 1966

Pennsylvania native, Paul Evans was an artist, craftsman, sculptor, and furniture designer. At the age of 9, his paintings were exhibited in a one-man show in New York. He studied sculpture, metalwork and textiles at several institutions including the Philadelphia Textile Institute (1950), and the Rochester Institute of Technology School for American Craftsmen (1950). In 1952, Paul Evans was the 1st American to win the prestigious Booth Fellowship, an award bestowed upon young craftsmen, artists and designers, which allowed him to attend the Cranbrook Academy of Art (1952).

In the early 1950s, while working as an Artist in Residence silversmith at the working history museum Sturbridge Village, Paul Evans frequented the studio of artisan Phillip Lloyd Powell in New Hope, PA. Evans was intrigued and later inspired by Phillip Lloyd Powell. Paul Evans moved to New Hope in 1956 and his acquaintance with Powell grew into a business and creative partnership. Initially Evans was creating table-top sculptural objects. Phillip Lloyd Powell encouraged Paul Evans to create large scale works.

In 1957, Paul Evans’ work was included in an exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Crafts (now the Museum of Arts & Design) alongside the work of Phillip Lloyd Powell, Wharton Esherick and George Nakashima. Evans and Powell had a two-man show in 1961 at America House, an exhibition held at the Museum of Contemporary Crafts.

Directional catalog

Paul Evans sold his work through his New Hope studio and through furniture manufacturer Directional. Paul Evans designed furniture for Directional from 1964 through the late 1970s. Paul Evans for Directional introduced highly collectible editions such as the Argente series, Sculpted Bronze series, and the Cityscape series, as well as one-of-a-kind pieces. Paul Evans’ relationship with Directional set the standard for creative manufacture by insisting every piece was made by hand, finished by hand, and supervised by the artist at each step of the process, one piece at a time.

Paul Evans furniture designs have several distinctive styles and range greatly. From clean lined, such as his Cityscape series and patchwork burl wood and metal designs, to almost folk-like, such as his iconic cabinets with grid patterns filled with an array of metal forms, to Brutalist sculpted metal designs. The element that is apparent and consistent in all Paul Evans designs is his great sculptural style. Paul Evans’ dedication to handcraft, quality and uniqueness made his furniture creations true works of art.

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