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CLARKE & REILLY. “1960’S ARMCHAIR” EN- GLISH, FIBERGLASS, FABRIC, CEMENT, AND PAINT. COURTESY OF BLACKMAN CRUZ. PHOTOGRAPHED BY JIM TURNER.
in time when rebirth, repositioning, and recalibration seem ever the imperative, the work of Clarke & Reilly reminds us of our taproots, of the dedication our gardens warrant, and the human spirit’s stubborn, indigo-blue resilience.
I had the privilege of conversing with the pair, who dialed into the video call from a 1700s home they’re—no surprise—in the throes of restoring in their recently located new community of Somerset, England, to discuss the latest collection, their cre- ative outlook, and what’s in store for when the sun rises high and welcomes its dormant seedlings to do the same.
I understand you’ve different backgrounds—both creative—but different in many regards. Can you share where the fusion hap- pened and how it’s amassed strength?
Bridget Dwyer: David has always worked in object arts and
the medium of furniture, and he’s the artist of our duo. I had a background in fashion and sort of came across David when I was buying for Liberty, or something like that. We met and started
collaborating from there—quite organically and naturally. Our styles completely clashed and complemented each other.
Over the years, since 2006, we’ve been doing things together. We’ve shown bodies of work that David’s done in galleries in London, and Hong Kong, Vienna, or we’ve done private com- missions, like one-off pieces, but we’ve also done together more commercial projects in retail, and we’ve done cabins in the woods in Yosemite.
And what would you say is the constant in those projects?
BD: It always works or involves usable furniture. I think our shared love of objects is what made our collaboration quite easy, and our shared way of thinking about the past in a really beauti- ful way. But then David’s process is to add another layer, to add another process to it, that gives it some more life—not just to kind of throw it out and start all over again.
David, can you speak to that spirit of reclamation and new life-giving in your practice?
David Grocott: Yeah, for sure. To me, the beauty is all around us.
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