Overview

A leading maker and influential teacher for over 30 years, Michael Rowe is now regarded as one of the most significant figures in the development of contemporary applied art  in Britain. 

 

"Michael Rowe applies a searing, ruthless intellectual approach to his work, giving it immense formal dignity. He is currently interested in investigating both the spatial quality and the spatial context in which his work resides. The geometry of the cube, sphere, cylinder, cone, ellipse etc. are explored, both for their own values and contextually, in relation to the geometry of the interior space."

 Eric Turner, Keeper of Metalwork, Victoria & Albert Museum

 

Michael Rowe was born in England in 1948 and studied at the Royal College of Art, London. He has had solo exhibitions and contributed to numerous international exhibitions in Europe, Scandinavia, United States and the Far East. In 2003 Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery presented a major retrospective of his work.

 

Rowe is a Fellow of the Royal College of Art. In 2002 he received the Golden Ring of Honour from the Association of German Goldsmiths, the first Briton to receive this award. He has Honorary Doctorates from Buckinghamshire New University and University of Hasselt, Belgium. Since 1984 he has been a Senior Tutor at the Royal College of Art.

 

Michael Rowe's work has been acquired by museums and public art collections across the world including the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, Royal Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam, National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, National Museum of Australia, Canberra, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Crafts Council, London, Museum Boymans van Beuningen, Rotterdam, Pinakothek Der Moderne, Munich, Museum of the 21st Century, Kanazawa.

 

Works
  • Michael Rowe, Behind Glass no.6, 2013
    Michael Rowe
    Behind Glass no.6, 2013
    Box, 925 Silver
  • Michael Rowe, 12 Barley Corn Inches, 2011
    Michael Rowe
    12 Barley Corn Inches, 2011
    Brass Sheet, Barleycorn, Hand Fabrication & Finishing Techniques
    Edition of 10
  • Michael Rowe, One Foot Plate, 2011
    Michael Rowe
    One Foot Plate, 2011
    925 Silver, Card, Hand Fabrication & Finishing Techniques
  • Michael Rowe, Under-plate, 2011
    Michael Rowe
    Under-plate, 2011
    925 Silver, 'Barleycorn' Textured Aluminum Plate, Shoe, Hand Fabrication & Finishing Techniques
  • Michael Rowe, Wry Vita, 2011
    Michael Rowe
    Wry Vita, 2011
    925 Silver, Ryvita Crispbread, Ryvita Packet, Hand Fabrication & Finishing Techniques
  • Michael Rowe, 10 Standard Cornfields, 2010
    Michael Rowe
    10 Standard Cornfields, 2010
    Barleycorn Aluminium Sheet, Wood, Glass
    34.5 x 25.8 x 1.5 cm
    Edition 1 of 10
  • Michael Rowe, Behind Glass No. 2, 2009
    Michael Rowe
    Behind Glass No. 2, 2009
    Aluminium, wooden frame, pencil, glass
  • Michael Rowe, Behind Glass no.1, 2009
    Michael Rowe
    Behind Glass no.1, 2009
    Silver, Showcase (Wood, Perspex)
  • Michael Rowe, Conditions for Ornament no.25, 1994
    Michael Rowe
    Conditions for Ornament no.25, 1994
    Conical Vase, Brass, Tin Finish
    51 x 18.5 x 22cm
  • Michael Rowe, Conditions of Ornament no.19, 1993
    Michael Rowe
    Conditions of Ornament no.19, 1993
    Lidded Container, Brass, Gold Leaf Finish
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