Jephson Robb
Glasgow native Jephson Robb graduated with a Masters degree in Design from the Royal College of Art, London, in 2003. He received his first commission “Temple” from Tord Bootje for the British Council’s “Eight Rooms” touring exhibition in 2004. A highly respected work of design art, “Temple,” was subsequently displayed in New York, Shanghai, Buenos Aires, and Frankfurt. In 2005, Paola Antonelli, Senior Curator of Architecture and Design at the New York Museum of Modern Art, commissioned “Cries & Whispers” for SAFE, the first major design exhibition at the museum after its reopening in 2004. “Cries & Whispers” has since been added to the museum’s permanent collection.
In 2005, Robb received his first public art commission for the Scottish Arts Council. “Golden Age,” a 700cm diameter gold leaf circle in the centuries-old Pittenweem harbor, demonstrated the ephemeral nature of materialism. His next public art installation came in 2007 when he was commissioned by the Edinburgh Arts Festival to create an interactive art project, “Wonder,” a series of 500cm high pyramids built on Portobello Beach. Robb’s formidable bronze sculpture “Change” was commissioned as a parable for the revitalization of Scotland’s historic Clydebank. The 500cm sculpture consists of three interloping bronze circles.
Robb installed his largest public art commission to-date in 2013, “Love and Kisses,” a 25-meter long public sculpture for the Helix project in Falkirk, Scotland. In 2014, he completed his first architectural commission, designing three pavilions and two bicycle shelters for the grounds of the new South Glasgow NHS Hospital.
A frequent participant in forums on art and design, Robb has conducted workshops at Vitra’s renowned Boisbuchet summer sessions. Fusing together the traditional skills of a fine art practice with the technology of contemporary design, Robb has worked with a wide range of private clients and public organizations including Liberty of London, Frankfurt Messe, Atkins, The Environment Agency, Page/Park Architects, ARUP and Austin-Smith:Lord to create site-specific artworks, interior installations and permanent public sculptures.
During the past 10 years Robb has consulted for Bernhardt Design as art director on a number of creative projects including advertising campaigns, web design and as creative director for exhibitions at the Salone Del Mobile in Milan. In 2010, Bernhardt Design invited Robb to design his first lounge chair, “Amri”. Subsequently, in 2012, Robb added new lounge seating collections and a range of guest chairs to the Bernhardt Design portfolio. He won a Good Design Award and Best of NeoCon in 2013 for his Quiet Table Collection.