Peter Shire (b.1947) American artist and designer

Peter Shire is an American designer who was born in 1947. He is professionally active in Los Angeles.

Biography

Shire was invited to join Ettore Sottsass’s Memphis project in 1981. He produced the project’s quirky, geometrically oriented furniture in Pop Art hues and dynamic shapes. In 1989, he independently created a 63-piece collection of Italian furniture and furnishings. Except for Memphis, his works were all one-offs before this period. His glassware, designed at the Vistosi firm of Mauro Albarelli, converted Murano glass into vivid, sculpture-like shapes. His quirky ceramic teapots were well-known.

Works

His Memphis designs included the 1981 Brazil table, 1982 Peninsula table, 1982 Anchorage silver and lacquer teapot, 1983 Hollywood side table, 1985 Cahuenga floor lamp, 1985 Laurel table lamp, 1986 Big Sur sofa, and 1987 Peter sideboard. In addition, his colourful Bel Air upholstered armchair, which he designed in 1982, was generally regarded as a Memphis-style icon.

Recognition

He was a member of the American Institute of Architects Design Team for the XXIII Olympiad (LA Games) and has produced public sculptures in Los Angeles and other California communities. Shire has received honours for his contributions to Los Angeles’ cultural life.

Sources

Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing. https://amzn.to/3UJAQal

Fitzgerald, O. P. (2022). American Furniture Designers: 1900-2020. United States: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. https://amzn.to/3WRtnc5

Shire, P., Brecher, K. S. (1983). Peter Shire: New Work : Ceramic, Sculpture, Furniture, 1983. United States: Janus Gallery (8000 Melrose Ave., 90046). https://amzn.to/3WKWeOW

Spieth, D. A., Lauria, J. (2013). L.A. to LA: Peter Shire at LSU, January 31 – April 14, 2013. United States: LSU Press. https://amzn.to/3WMzezd

Votolato, G. (1998). American Design in the Twentieth Century: Personality and Performance. United Kingdom: Manchester University Press.

Wikipedia contributors. (2021, May 12). Peter Shire. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 06:39, June 5, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Peter_Shire&oldid=1022758456

More on Furniture Designers

Related Articles

• Ettore Sottsass (1917-2007) Father of Anti-Design
• Parola Telephone (1979) Soft and Inviting
• Memphis Group – it has little to do with Tennessee
• Michael Peters (b. 1941) British Graphic Designer
• Designers