Martin Szekely
Born in 1956 and trained at the Écoles Boulle and Estienne, Martin Szekely first came to prominence with his inaugural furniture collection, Pi. Developed between 1982 and 1985 thanks to a carte blanche from Via (Valorisation de l’Innovation dans l’Ameublement), the collection notably included the iconic Pi chaise longue.
Since then, his work has been divided into two main bodies. On one hand, limited series of research-driven furniture and objects, regularly exhibited in galleries. On the other, industrial products and commissions, developed in collaboration with manufacturers and through public projects.
Among his solo exhibitions, the collections Pi (1985), Containers (1987), Pour faire salon (1989), Initiales (1991) et Satragno (1994) at Galerie Neotù (Paris), Martin Szekely (1996) at Centre Pompidou (Paris), Martin Szekely designer (1998) at MaC’s / Site du Grand-Hornu, des plats (2000), six constructions (2002), des étagères (2005), concrete (2008), heroic shelves and simple boxes (2009) and Units (2011) at Galerie kreo (Paris), Martin Szekely – Ne plus dessiner (2011) at Centre Pompidou (Paris), Artefact (2014), MAP (2014) and Manière Noire (2015) at Blondeau & Cie (Genève), Artefact (2015), at Galerie Salon 94 (New York), Moon Wood (2017), The Drawers and I (2019) and Matière Lente (2023) at Pierre Marie Giraud gallery (Bruxelles), Œuvres récentes (2017) Hôtel de Clermont-Tonnerre (Paris), Construction - Martin Szekely (2018) Musée des Arts décoratifs et du Design (Bordeaux), Martin Szekely-Début (2020) Rémi Gerbaud & Jean-Philippe Mercier/Galerie Mercier & associés (Paris), Martin Szekely – The 80s (2022) at Galerie Jousse entreprise (Paris), Martin Szekely-Marie France Schneider (2022) Rémi Gerbaud & Jean-Philippe Mercier/Galerie Mercier & associés (Paris), Matière Lente (2022) Musée national Adrien Dubouché , Cité de la Céramique - Sèvres & Limoges (Limoges), Martin Szekely- Portfolio & Livres (2025) at Galerie signé (Paris).
His works are included in the following collections: Musée national d’art moderne / Centre de création industrielle, Centre Pompidou, Paris ; Fonds national d’art contemporain, Paris ; Musée des arts décora- tifs et du design, Bordeaux ; Musée des arts décoratifs, Paris ; MaC’s / Site du Grand Hornu, Le Grand Hornu ; Musée d’art moderne Grand-duc Jean, Luxembourg ; Museu do design, Lisbonne ; Museum of Modern art, New York ; San Francisco Museum of Modern art, San Francisco ; Winterthur Museum, Winterthur (USA) ; Israel Museum, Jérusalem ; Victoria & Albert Museum, Londres ; Musée des beaux- arts de Montréal, Montréal ; Collection de l’histoire du Louvre, Musée du Louvre, Paris, France ; Parc des sculptures, Musée de l’Hospice Saint Roch, Issoudun.
In 2025, he unveiled his first collection with Galerie signé, titled Soleil Noir, alongside a portfolio and books.
Solo Exhibitions :
2025 Martin Szekely, portfolio & livres, Galerie signé, Paris
2023 Matière Lente, Pierre Marie Giraud, Brussels, Belgium
2022 Martin Szekely-Marie France Schneider, Rémi Gerbaud et Jean-Philippe Mercier, Galerie Mercier & associés, Paris
2022 Martin Szekely – The 80s, Galerie Jousse entreprise, Paris
2022 Matière Lente, Musée national Adrien Dubouché Cité de la Céramique - Sèvres & Limoges
2020 Martin Szekely-Début, Rémi Gerbaud et Jean-Philippe Mercier, Galerie Mercier & associés, Paris
2019 The Drawers and I, Pierre Marie Giraud, Brussels, Belgium
2018 Construction - Martin Szekely (cat.), MADD, Bordeaux, France
2017 Œuvres récentes, Hôtel de Clermont-Tonnerre, Paris, France
2017 Moon Wood (cat.), Pierre Marie Giraud, Brussels, Belgium
2015 Manière Noire, Blondeau & Cie, Geneva, Switzerland
2015 Artefact, Salon 94, New York, USA
2014 Artefact and MAP, Blondeau & Cie, Geneva, Switzerland
2011 Ne plus dessiner (cat.), Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
2011 Units, Galerie Kreo, Paris, France
2009 Heroic shelves and simple boxes, Galerie Kreo, Paris, France
2008 Concrete (cat.), Galerie Kreo, Paris, France
2005 Des étagères (cat.), Galerie Kreo, Paris, France
2002 Six constructions (cat.), Galerie Kreo, Paris, France
2000 Un banquet (cat.), Galerie Kreo, Paris, France
1999 L’Armoire (cat.), Galerie Purple, Paris, France
1998 Martin Szekely designer (cat.), MAC’s Site du Grand-Hornu, le Grand-Hornu, Belgium
1998 Martin Szekely à Vallauris (cat.), Centre Européen d’Art Contemporain de Vallauris, France
1996 Martin Szekely (cat.), Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
1995 Association Française d’Action Artistique (AFAA), travelling exhibition, Martin Szekely (cat.)
1994 Collection Satragno, Galerie Neotù, Paris, France
1991 Collection Initiales, Galerie Neotù, Paris, France
1989 Collection Pour faire salon, Galerie Neotù, Paris, France
1987 Collection Containers, Galerie Neotù, Paris, France
1986 Martin Szekely (cat.), Château de Vassivière, Peyrat le Château, France
1985 Collection Pi, Galerie Neotù, Paris, France
Public Collections :
Collection de l’histoire du Louvre, Musée du Louvre, Paris, France
MADD, Bordeaux, France
MAC’s/Site du Grand-Hornu, Le Grand-Hornu, Belgium
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal (MBAM), Montréal, Canada
Victoria & Albert Museum, London, England
Fonds National d’Art Contemporain (FNAC), Paris, France
Musée des Arts décoratifs et du Design, Bordeaux, France
MAD, Paris, France
Musée National d’Art Moderne/Centre de création industrielle, Centre Pompidou, Paris, France
Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Israel
Musée d’art moderne Grand Duc Jean (MUDAM), Luxembourg
Musée du Design, Lisbon, Portugal
Cooper-Hewitt Museum, New York, USA
Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, California, USA
Winterthur Museum, Winterthur, Delaware, USA
The Olympic Museum, Lausanne, Switzerland
Industrial and public projects :
Soleil, outdoor furniture for Tectona (2022)
Seating design for The Louvre Museum, Paris (2020-2021)
Martial Raysse exhibition Showcases, Palazzo Grassi, François Pinault Foundation, Venice (2015)
ALAIA Perfume bottle, BPI (2015)
Lounging ritual service set for Dom Pérignon (2015)
Cœur de Figuier perfume bottle for Roger & Gallet, L’Oréal (2015)
Racks and showcases for ALAIA, AATC (2013)
Pompidou pen for S.T. Dupont (2011)
Radius champagne cooler, ice bucket, and ice tongs for Christofle (2010)
Shoe-fitting stool for JM Weston (2010)
Foot-measuring device for JM Weston (2010)
Specchio and Grande Specchio digital picture frames for Parrot (2008-2009)
Perfume bottles for Roger & Gallet, L’Oréal (2015)
Loveseat for MK2 Cinema (2003)
Pilotime multimedia terminal for Groupe Canal +/Canal Satellite (2003)
Perfo tray for Manade/Clen (2003)
Ténéré line of cutlery for Christofle (2003)
Glass for Heineken (2002)
Safety lighting power supply for Legrand (2001)
Concept coolers and tray for Dom Pérignon (2000)
Z Tile for Terreal (1999)
Symbole pendant for Hermès (1999)
Eau de Saint-Louis perfume bottle for Cristallerie de Saint-Louis (1999)
Reflex hammer for the European Neurological Society (1998)
Glass for Perrier (1996)
Reine de Saba necklace for Hermès (1996)
Structura, Creo, Tenara light switches for Legrand (1995)
Corolle electric pylon for Transel/EDF (1994)
Podium for the Albertville Winter Olympics (1992)
Briefcase Caractère for Delvaux (1992)
Advertising street furniture for JC Decaux (1992)
Exhibitions and Fairs :
Design Miami - 2025
PORTFOLIO & BOOKS - 2025
SOLEIL NOIR - 2025