John Byrne: Blurred Boundaries

John Byrne sits in a long tradition of artist-painted furniture. From Folk art to the Bloomsbury group, elevating functional objects from the home with designs and pictures has long drawn artists away from their easels.

The painted oak leaf, a recurring motif of John’s, adorns the doors of a mid-century cabinet. Portraits of his companions, Thistle the house rabbit and Misha the dog, make appearances. An autumnal tree sheds its leaves like confetti across the double doors of a wardrobe, and a leafless tree bent over in the prevailing wind accommodates the form of a small black dressing table.

Alongside the furniture are a group of paintings, drawings and prints, by both John and artists in his collection.