Martin Székely

Martin Szekely, born on April 22, 1956, in Paris, is a French designer recognized for his pursuit of the essence of objects and materials. The son of ceramic artist Vera Székely and sculptor Pierre Székely, both Hungarian immigrants, he was trained at École Boulle and École Estienne, where he obtained a degree in engraving.

He gained recognition in 1982 with the creation of the Pi chaise longue, an iconic piece that marked the beginning of his career. This work, developed between 1982 and 1985 through a Carte Blanche grant from VIA (Valorisation de l'Innovation dans l'Ameublement), reflects his minimalist and functional approach to design.

Throughout his career, Szekely has collaborated with design publishers such as Galerie Néotù and Galerie Kreo, as well as with major industrial brands, including Perrier, Heineken, JCDecaux, and Électricité de France. One of his most widely produced creations is the Perrier glass, manufactured in 20 million copies, demonstrating his ability to combine design and industrial production.

His work is guided by a search for simplicity and efficiency, aiming to create objects that are universally understandable. He states: “My goal is to create common spaces, in the universal sense, that is, products that can be understood by everyone.”

Martin Szekely’s works are part of the collections of several prestigious museums, including the Centre Pompidou, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, and the MoMA in New York. In 2011, the Centre Pompidou dedicated an exhibition to him titled "Ne plus dessiner" (No More Drawing), emphasizing the importance of his conceptual approach to design.

Among his notable solo exhibitions are "Collection Pi" (1985), "Containers" (1987), and "Pour faire salon" (1989) at Galerie Néotù, as well as "Martin Szekely – Ne plus dessiner" (2011) at the Centre Pompidou.