Plywood: A Material Exploration

Vista general

The origins of plywood extend back to ancient Egypt; however, today’s plywood is the product of mid-1800s industrial progress.

In anticipation of opening the new design galleries, Darrin Alfred, Curator of Architecture and Design, will explore the modern history of plywood through examples drawn from the Denver Art Museum’s collection. As he discusses plywood’s modern history, Darrin will also reveal how he has diversified the collection’s representation of those who have explored this progressive material’s unique properties.

Spanning more than 150 years, the museum’s collection of plywood furniture encompasses works by widely examined designers that experimented with the material during the 1930s and 1940s, such as Alvar Aalto and Charles and Ray Eames, as well as a range of lesser-known and contemporary designers, including Han Pieck, Reiko Tanabe, and Laura Kishimoto.