About

Mayfair Gallery collaborates with a selection of contemporary craft practitioners to present Refiguring Nature — an exploration of how the world of nature influences the world of design. Pairing items from Mayfair Gallery’s collection of luxury antiques with the work of contemporary artists and designers, the exhibition delves into how creative minds have taken inspiration from the organic world around them, from the 19th century to the modern day.

By pairing old and new, stark contrasts become apparent in both design and subject, with contemporary artists often using materials and forms that were unheard of in the centuries past. Yet when placed in conjunction, antique and contemporary design is often united by its reliance on the natural world, utilising motifs, media, and forms that pervade even in the modern industrialised age.

The growing global climate crisis provides a more sombre lens through which we view these objects. Contemporary designers now draw upon the natural world often with a sense of deliberate eco-consciousness, whilst antiques are becoming reframed as a more sustainable way to enjoy furniture and the decorative arts.

Discover how artists and designers, both antique and contemporary, ‘refigure nature’ in their works, creating timeless pieces that can bring the beauty of the natural world into the modern home.