Marc Newson (Australian, born )

Marc Newson (American, b.1963) is an Australian-born designer, considered one of the most acclaimed of his generation. Born in Sydney, Newson traveled extensively to Europe and Asia from at an early age. He works in various media and across multiple disciplines, having designed furniture, cars, household items, and sculptural works, among other projects. After graduating from the Sydney College of the Arts in 1984, where he studied sculpture and jewelry, Newson was awarded a grant from the Australian Crafts Counsel. Shortly thereafter, he designed and created his iconic Lockheed Lounge, a chair that has set multiple records at auction. Newson works with and for clients in a range of fields and businesses, such as fashion, manufacturing, and technology. His own companies include a watch brand and an aerospace design consultancy firm. He was part of Time Magazine's list of 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2005, and received an honorary doctorate from Sydney University. Newson's work has been exhibited in various museums around the world, such as the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, the Design Museum in London, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. In addition to his career in Australia, Newson has lived and worked in Tokyo, Paris, and London, where he is currently based.

Timeline

1963
Born in Sydney
1984
Studied jewellery and sculpture at Sydney College of the Arts. He started experimenting with furniture design as a student and, upon graduation, was awarded a grant from the Australian Crafts Council. Staged an exhibition (featuring the ‘Lockheed Loung') at the Roslyn Oxley Gallery in Sydney.
1987–1991
When the Japanese entrepreneur, Teruo Kurosaki, offered to put his designs into production, Newson moved to Tokyo, where he lived and worked. Kurosaki's company, Idée, manufactured such pieces as the Orange Lounge, Black Hole Table and Felt Chair, which were widely exhibited in Asia and Europe.
1991
Set up a studio in Paris and won commissions from prestigious European manufacturers including Flos for lighting, Cappellini and Moroso for furniture. He formed a joint venture, the Ikepod Watch Company, to manufacture the watches he designed, and produced limited editions of aluminium furniture including the Event Horizon Table and Orgone Chair.
1997
Moved to London, where he set up Marc Newson Ltd as a larger studio capable of tackling more ambitious industrial projects
2003
Commissioned by the Fondation Cartier to design a piece of his choosing, coinciding with his 40th birthday. The result was Kelvin40, a concept jet, exhibited at the Fondation Cartier in Paris (January - May 2004).
2004–2005
Received the commission to design entire aircraft interiors including airport lounges for the new A380 fleet for Qantas

Exhibitions

2007
Gagosian Gallery, New York
2005
Design Museum, London
2004
Groninger Museum, The Netherlands
2004
Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain
2004
Galerie Kréo, Paris
2001
Powerhouse Museum, Sydney
2000
Galerie Kréo, Paris
1999
McLellan Gallery, Glasgow
1997
Villa de Noailles, Heyres, France
1995
Fondation Cartier pour l'art contemporain, Paris
1994
Internos Bis, Milan
1991
C&Bi Interior, Stockholm
1988
Idée, Tokyo