Evolution by Erwan Boulloud

When I was first introduced to the art furniture by French maker/designer Erwan Boulloud, I was immediately thinking of André-Charles Boulle, the most legendary French cabinetmaker who worked with brass and other metals when creating furniture for his most famous client, the Sun King, Louis XIV. I was not surprised therefore, when meeting Boulloud this morning for the occasion of his first US solo show, ‘Evolution’ at Twenty First Gallery, that he is a graduate from École Boulle, the Parisian college of arts and crafts, named after the 17th-century artist, where his legacy is taught to this day.

Since graduating twenty five years ago, Boulloud has mastered the art of metal and his personal artistic process, which allow him to achieve dazzling pieces of furniture of unexpected forms, remarkable craftsmanship, and magical effects. These pieces have come to situate him at the forefront of the art furniture world.

His strength, his innovation can be found in the case pieces and in the mirrors, where his forms are particularly fascinating and powerful, technically impressive, and fresh looking. The exhibition demonstrates that the scope of his materials are wide, including not only a variety types of metals, but also wood, glass, and concrete, along with wealth of methods. His creative process is varied as well, ranging from designing forms digitally before putting them into production, to forms that grow organically from and the progression of the making.

The exhibition will closed on November 15, 2019.