‘a table made of wood’, 1999 (various woods)
courtesy of the milwaukee art museum
photo: elaine brodie

gord peteran: furniture meets its maker
museum of arts and design, new york
may 27 - july 26, 2009

new york’s museum of arts and design is now showing the innovative work of canadian artist and designer
gord peteran. the show is the second exhibition in the museum’s new design and innovation gallery and
will showcase peteran’s twenty-five year career in furniture making. peteran’s work is well known for
integrating conceptual content into the realm of furniture, often evoking narration. his designs often explore
the functional role of furniture and the relationship between serial and one-off production. this is the first
large exhibition of peteran’s work in the US, consisting of 21 pieces in a range of mediums.

‘peteran’s work focuses on erasing the traditional boundaries between art and craft, his pieces are conceptual,
frequently non-functional, often witty, and meant to challenge pre-conceived notions about both furniture
and sculpture.
-holly hotchner, the nanette l. laitman director of the museum

http://www.madmuseum.org


‘100’, 1996 (machined bronze, ebony, custom built oak and leather case)
collection of sylvia and garry knox
bennett photo: elaine brodie


‘musical box (glenn gould prize)’, 1996 (red oak, brown oak, steel, ebony, brass, aluminum, plastic, leather, rock, copper)
courtesy of glenn gould foundation and glenn gould studio
photo: elaine brodie


‘an early table’, 2004 (twigs, string)
courtesy of william anderson
photo: elaine brodie


‘best general view #1’, 2001 (found woods, brass)
courtesy of the artist
photo: elaine brodie


‘chest on chest’, 1984 (red oak, ebonized cherry)
courtesy of david g. burry
photo: elaine brodie


‘electric chair’, 2004 (tubular steel and lightbulb)
courtesy of david dorenbaum
photo: elaine brodie


‘ark’, 2001 (stained oak, metal, velvet, glass, electrical cord)
courtesy of the artist
photo: doug hall