Meet the rising craft star who creates sustainable furniture made from bamboo …
How or who kickstarted your love of design? My dad was an engineer, and my mother’s parents were very artistic, both visual and written. I’ve always been a very curious person, and for a long time I kind of bounced between the arts and engineering. I found a good balance studying design at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in Florida, and then working in digital design. After many years being in front of a computer, I really craved getting back into more tangible work. While living in Boston, around 2016, I walked into a maker space and started playing around with using their technologies to build various things. At the time, what really hooked me was building retro video game arcades. I did this on the side for a while, and really perfected marrying CAD (Computer-Aided Design), 3D printing, and CNC (Computer Numerical Control) with traditional, handmade woodworking. I was able to create works that previously simply could not be constructed. After moving to Ireland in 2022, I decided to take the leap and do this fulltime. It was important for me to find a sustainable way to create the most beautiful objects, so thus began my journey with bamboo furniture and MISH.
How would you define your unique selling point? When looking at furniture, your USP comes down to two main points: design and quality. When looking at bamboo’s hardness, density and dimensional stability, it’s more durable than many of the best hardwoods. All of my products are solid bamboo joined together with more solid bamboo. I don’t use veneers, plastic or metal fasteners, or other methods that could compromise the strength of the furniture or deteriorate over time.
My distinctive design is where MISH really shines. When I first started looking into bamboo, I had an ah-ha moment and realised that, quite simply, everyone has been using the material wrong! Rather than harnessing its natural properties, others were commoditising it – just using the strength to create something easy and fast. I developed a method of stacking bamboo that enables a certain manipulation of shape and texture, resulting in the striking patterns and forms. My background outside of woodworking, being self-taught, also helps me to look at furniture differently. When creating a new piece, I design it from an artistic standpoint first. I know I can later rely on my engineering know-how to construct what my mind conjures up, as opposed to being beholden to a limited number of common joints and techniques.
What are some of your bestselling pieces? People are really drawn to the ECHO bench and armchair. They are both very versatile pieces that stand out and define a space – whether that’s alone in a hallway or office, or grouped around a dining table. The ECHO drinks trolley is also very popular. My plan is to create more niche, entertainment pieces in the future, and this was my first foray into that.
You’ve had a great year so far – what’s been your highlight to date? It was amazing to show at Collect in London among other great artists. As one of the Design & Crafts Council Ireland’s Future Maker winners last year, I was fortunate to have them sponsor my participation. I spend so much time creating in isolation, focusing on my vision and rarely looking out, so the feedback validated all the hard work and sacrifices. Of the nearly 1,000 items exhibited by over 400 artists, the Articulate Lamp was selected by The World Of Interiors as one of their most loved pieces, and ELLE Decoration UK called me a “new craft star to discover”.
Tell us about your current exhibition: My first public, solo exhibition is at Kinsale Library. I love living in Co Cork, and to have this inspiring architecture in a small village is a great gift. It was even recognised at the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland awards last year. My furniture really needs to be seen in person, and touched. I often hear that the pieces are softer, smoother, more tactile and comfortable than expected. Furthermore, the detail in techniques and construction is best appreciated up close. The amount of space at the library has allowed me to bring in some of my bigger pieces as well such as the COR dining table. However, I think my favourite piece at the show is the modular entertainment cabinet.
How and where do you work? I design and build every item individually at my workshop in Kinsale. Most MISH furniture is made-to-order, and produced in small limited editions. I put a significant amount of time into designing and perfecting a piece before releasing it to the public, so working in this manner has allowed me to offer the best final product, as opposed to commissions. Custom, commercial and home fit-outs are also possible. One of the goals of the new modular entertainment system is to carry over the quality of my furniture into larger spaces of various configurations.
Need to know: Find MISH at Kinsale Library, Co Cork until June 24 and at www.mish.ie @mish_ireland
SEE MORE: Artistic License – Lesley-Ann O’Connell
