Michael Rowe

Michael Rowe (b.1948) is regarded as one of the most significant figures in the development of contemporary applied art in Britain. Rowe is an artist and designer in metal whose work has extended the boundaries of traditional silversmithing. His particular focus has been container and vessel forms, treated not only as geometrical structures but also as carriers of meaning. His work is notable for its innovative approach to concept and form. The creative tension between geometry and poetry, between systematic visual enquiry and the joy in the working of metal are brought together in objects of a pure and compelling beauty. His investigations into the colouring and patination of metals have led him to create designs in which colour and texture are as defining as their form. Rowe's challenging work has attracted an international audience. This publication offers a survey of his work, and should be of interest not only to academics, collectors and practitioners in the fields of silversmithing and metalwork, but to all those concerned with the development of the visual arts.