Phillip Keefe’s furnishings seems prefer it would possibly scuttle away within the evening. The Chicago-based designer makes use of conventional methods like hand-carving and wooden joinery to sculpt full of life items evocative of spiders, crabs, and different creepy, crawly critters.
The Tim Burton-esque furnishings had been initially impressed by Keefe’s canine Iggy, who incessantly accompanied him to the studio. “His ambitions always exceeded his ability, and what I’m sure began with helpful intentions ended as scatterings of wood shavings all over my shop,” the designer added, noting that Iggy’s most necessary contribution was serving as a mannequin. Keefe hand-carved iterations of the canine’s legs, which grew to become the premise for a sequence of chairs and tables named after the pup.
The Arthropod assortment emerged equally. As Keefe explored varied wooden joints, he found one technique that will permit furnishings legs to connect to the aspect of a chunk slightly than relaxation beneath. The ensuing bookshelf, a cupboard, and a desk with sq. skeletal frames and legs that appear primed for motion, as if they may scurry throughout the room to greet you at any second.
When you’re in Chicago, catch Keefe’s anthropomorphic works in a pop-up challenge by way of October 11. In any other case, discover extra on his web site and Instagram.
