Peter Shire Navigates Aesthetic and Function Across Playful Works

Dries Van Noten is currently spotlight a selection of pastel-colored art objects by Peter Shire at its gallery space, The Little House, in Los Angeles, California. Entitled “In a Hollywood Bungalow,” the presentation features wide range of pieces including, painting, furniture, sculptures, ceramics and toys. Shire is best known for his works that blur the lines between fine art and industrial design. Shire champions the concept of volume in his interdisciplinary practice, creating abstract figurations on canvas that are also found across three-dimensional pieces that pay homage to the aesthetics of Southern California while garnering inspiration from Bauhaus, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco movements.

From paintings to sculptures, Shire is enamored by a multitude of shapes that address his ongoing exploration of an object’s depth. Spearheading a modernist approach, his pieces inhibit functionality as they portray cones, cylinder and grids that appear ergonomically in tune as he navigates the interaction between humans and things of interest. “Through his playful, experimental approach Shire has forged a new language defined by the dialogue between shapes, surfaces, technology and aesthetics. Shire’s use of different materials pushed late 20th century design beyond traditional techniques and recognizable styles. His teapots (of which he has produced over 4,000) deal with the notion of functionality in an industrial artistic world,” as per a statement.

Shire’s works are currently held in the collections of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam, among others. Check out installation views for “In a Hollywood Bungalow” above and then head to Dries Van Noten’s website for more information.

Elsewhere in art, a painting by Charles White is being shown at David Zwirner’s “Exceptional Works.”

The Little House
451 N La Cienega Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90048