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Lot Essay
Works by Vermont-based artist Johnny Swing can be found in the collections of museums and art centers around the world, including the Storm King Art Center in Mountainville, New York and the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City. He has been featured in numerous exhibitions, including his most recent solo exhibition at Sebastian + Barquet in 2012. His art has garnered the fascination of admirers and collectors alike due to a unique design approach deeply rooted in his creative process. “First, it needs to be entertaining; second, it needs to spark curiosity, so that it creates a dialogue with the viewer; and third, it should have a formal quality, so that when the work is or approximates furniture, it must be comfortable.”
His coin furniture meets those expectations and more. The seemingly simple yet unnatural manipulation of a rather unexpected medium, which define the composition of these works, evoke immediate curiosity. Their undulating shapes and forms not only exemplify Swing’s imaginative creativity but his extraordinary craftsmanship. As viewers, we are goaded into engaging with the work not just visually but tangibly, breaking the barrier between sculptural art and functionality. As sculpture these pieces are intriguing and thought-provoking. As furniture, their organic forms are comfortable and functional. These multifaceted creations are a significant contribution to the early design fabric of the twenty-first century.
His coin furniture meets those expectations and more. The seemingly simple yet unnatural manipulation of a rather unexpected medium, which define the composition of these works, evoke immediate curiosity. Their undulating shapes and forms not only exemplify Swing’s imaginative creativity but his extraordinary craftsmanship. As viewers, we are goaded into engaging with the work not just visually but tangibly, breaking the barrier between sculptural art and functionality. As sculpture these pieces are intriguing and thought-provoking. As furniture, their organic forms are comfortable and functional. These multifaceted creations are a significant contribution to the early design fabric of the twenty-first century.