Kevin Webby

Clever?

Kevin Webby

Furniture designer - Hawkes Bay

"Here’s a man on a mission – “I want to make great New Zealand furniture design accessible to New Zealanders and the world.”"

Kevin Webby’s on the right track. With three years at the Cicada Studios design incubator, and trips to design events in Australia and Italy under his belt, Webby got his big break in 2006, when he was invited to exhibit at New Yorks’ International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF). Since then he’s attracted loads of attention from event organisers, exhibition curators and magazine editors, not to mention purchasers of his accomplished designs.
Kevin Webby recognises two themes in his current work, one stemming from his youth, the other from adult life. A childhood at the blustery beach of Waitarere, north of Wellington, gave him lots of time in the outdoors, exploring the bush and rivers, and also gave him an awareness of New Zealand’s Pacific influences. His experiences of the natural world are reflected in the more organic pieces in his collection, like the ponga tree-fern shape of the Blackseed Coat Tree, the slinky curves of the Pacific Ray bench seat, and our favourite, the X&Y magazine rack.
More recent interests have influenced works like the Lady Jane table lamp: a tongue-in-cheek interpretation of a classic lamp shape, finished in a striking range of vivid Perspex colourways or in Hoop Pine. An obsession with all things Brazilian inspired the Brazil Hanging Lamp, whose shape is a clever take on that country’s flag.
What’s next for Kevin Webby? “I’m keen to see New Zealand design gain more acceptance here and overseas. We need to get away from the old Kiwi No 8 wire mentality though. That kind of improvisation served us well in the past, but it’s time to evolve away from that and get more savvy.” To see how he’s leading the way, have a browse through Kevin’s designs right now …
  Hawkes Bay


Collection

 > Artist's Full Collection 
  • Pacific Ray Bench
  • Lady Jane table lamp
  • X Y Magazine Rack
  • Blackseed coat tree
  • Lady Jane Table Lamp Timber
  • Coral Fruit Holder
  • Saturn hanging lamp
  • Gemini Occasional table
  • Brazil Hanging lamp