LLOYD POWELL Phillip

Phillip Lloyd Powell graduated in mechanical engineering from Drexel University in Pennsylvania. He began his career as a designer at the end of World War II by restoring antique furniture. He quickly opened a showroom in New Hope in which he presented his creations, the success of his store would allow him to explore more and more the work and understanding of the piece. At a time when Scandinavian minimalism was very successful, Powell overturned the codes and opted for a naturalist approach. He let the grain of the wood appear, which even inspired the line, shape and movement of his furniture. From his friendly and artistic meeting with Paul Evans, who regularly frequented his showroom, a true creative partnership was born. When the latter moved to New Hope in 1955, the two designers opened a joint showroom, the fruit of their collaboration would be exhibited on numerous occasions in several exhibitions, including the famous “Furniture by Craftsmen” in 1957 at the “Museum of Contemporary Crafts”. At the end of their association, Phillip Lloyd Powell left to travel and settled in Spain for several years. Back in New Hope, he continued to explore the possibilities of form and produced pieces with an almost fantastical appearance, focusing more on the design than on the functionality of the piece of furniture.