Ward Bennett

Ward Bennett (1917 - 2003) began working at the age of thirteen in Manhattan's Garment District. While primarily being self-taught, Bennett studied illustration, sculpture, and jewelry-making after attending art schools in Paris and Florence. However after returning to New York City, his focus for interior and furniture design would attract the attention of many notable clients. He is considered the first American to use industrial materials for furnishings and interior design, pioneering a distinctly American aesthetic that preceded the prevailing high-tech design styles from Europe in the 1970s. Bennett has received honors from the American Institute of Architects for his achievements in design, and has works included in the Museum of Modern Art's permanent collection.