Furniture with a story to tell
- Miles makes highly original and richly detailed sculptural furniture
- His approach blends traditional woodworking techniques with a sense of play
- Inspirations include his mythology, the ocean and grandmother’s stories
Miles Lawton Gracey’s decorative furniture pieces tell stories through symbolism and a sense of play. Raised in a small coastal town in California, he is influenced by stories of the sea, hence the shell forms that feature in his curvaceous shelves, carved couches and mother-of-pearl inlaid coffee tables. His practice is defined by a maximalist, highly ornamental style, where objects carry narrative weight. “I see furniture as something that evolves over time, shaped not only by the maker but also by the people who live with it,” he says. His pieces bridge function and emotional expression, allowing furniture to become symbolic and meaningful through its eloquent forms. Trained in both music and traditional furniture making, Miles works with a composer’s mindset, guiding the process rather than controlling it. He often begins with rough, intuitive cuts using a chainsaw, then refines the form with traditional carving tools. His pieces have featured in exhibitions across the USA, and have won multiple woodworking awards.
INTERVIEW
The ocean is a big influence for me, in particular shells as symbols of home and memory. I also pull from mythology and religion, along with my grandmother’s stories, which would blend fact and fiction freely.
We live with furniture every day, so it feels like it should be more than just functional. For me, each piece is a vessel with which to tell personal and shared stories that can evolve with the person who lives with it.
I start very freely, often with some rough sketching on the wood and a chainsaw. From there, I slowly refine the form using traditional carving tools. It is a slow, hand-led process and is intentionally not very efficient.
I see my practice as being part of an ongoing conversation with traditional craft. I use the same tools and draw from that language, but I approach it in my own way. Staying connected to this lineage is important to me.
