Transforming Wood into Ribbons: Pierre Renart’s Spectacularly Functional Works of Art

Represented exclusively by Maison Parisienne since 2011, Pierre Renart is redefining the traditional conventions of woodwork. His pieces are featured in various prestigious private and public collections, including Musee des Arts Decoratifs and the Mobiler National in Paris.

Pierre Renart constantly experiments with innovative techniques in order to produce an astonishing repertoire of forms, without ever compromising the element of functionality.

Using a bonding technique, which consists of meticulously stacking thin layers of wood and binding them with resin, Pierre Renart achieves the perfect balance between strength and flexibility. This, therefore, grants new life to the material and produces spectacularly functional works of art.

Pierre employs several types of wood as his means for creative expression. This includes padauk, oak, teak, rosewood, and above all, natural or stained American walnut.

Honouring the Curve

From the armchair to the console, from the shelf to the coffee table… Pierre Renart’s creations are thus a play of organic and even kinetic forms. This subsequently gives an illusion of continuous movement. His work is thus grouped around three signature collections: “Genesis”, “Ribbon” and “Fusion”.

“Genesis”, the designer’s debut collection, is characterized by the apparent delicacy of elegantly curved and intertwined wooden ribbons.

For the ‘Ribbon’ collection, the designer developed another aesthetic dimension. A wooden ribbon with no visible assembly endlessly coils around itself.

The ‘Fusion’ collection presents the perfect intersection between ‘Genesis’ and ‘Ribbon’. Here the wooden strips diverge from each other and finally fuse together in perfectly natural, elegant harmony.

A contemporary designer

As time passed, Pierre reflected on his work to develop more eco-responsible solutions, notably replacing carbon fibre with natural American walnut. He adapted and produced innovative techniques that work with the constraints of the wood to achieve his artistic vision.