Est. 2017

Eileen Gray

Architecture & Furniture Design

"It is wonderful to escape when one loves solitude. My whole life I have loved being alone, free from the obligations imposed by society."

About

Determined and independent, the young Irish aristocrat born in 1878 arrived in London in 1900 to study drawing. She explored the Victoria and Albert Museum, where she first discovered the history of furniture and Chinese and Japanese lacquer screens. The slow and intricate process of lacquer work fascinated her, and she began learning the technique with D. Charles, a restorer. In 1902, she moved to Paris with two friends and attended the Académie Julian, known for its free and innovative atmosphere.

In 1907, Eileen rented an apartment at 21 Rue Bonaparte in Paris, which she purchased three years later and where she lived for 70 years. She also rented a workshop on Rue Guénégaud for her master, Seizo Sugawara, a young Japanese lacquer artist. Together, they delved deeper into the art of lacquer work. Her screens bore poetic names, such as The Milky Way and Destiny, the latter purchased by renowned couturier Jacques Doucet in 1914.

Around 1907, textiles became another passion. With her childhood friend Evelyn Wyld, she traveled to Morocco to learn weaving techniques. They established a workshop at 17 Rue Visconti, managed by Evelyn. Eileen's textile designs were boldly abstract.

To promote her work, Eileen opened the Jean Désert gallery in 1921 on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, in collaboration with architect Jean Badovici. The gallery offered furniture, lacquer, screens, and carpets. In 1923, she made a strong impression at the Salon des Artistes Décorateurs with her Boudoir Bedroom for Monte-Carlo, marking a turning point in her career.

Encouraged by Jean Badovici, Eileen ventured into architecture. Her masterpiece is the E-1027 House in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin (1926–1927), built on stilts and featuring highly functional interiors. Her paradoxical humor was reflected in her furniture designs, such as the Transat chair, the Satellite mirror, and the Bibendum armchair. In 1929, she became a founding member of the Union des Artistes Modernes.

Returning to the south of France, she built the house Tempe a Pailla (1934) near Castellar. She continued working on projects until her death on October 31, 1976.