Jordan Keaney

Fascinated by how art can make people feel, I create pieces that sit between sculpture and furniture — objects designed to be both functional and emotionally resonant. My passion for making grew from experimentation and a curiosity about how materials behave. I love when design challenges you to decide whether to sit on it or simply admire it.

My creative journey began in a 4ft garden shed that I converted into my first workshop. A key moment came in 2018, when I was commissioned by the British Council of Art and Design to create a piece during the Venice Biennale. The resulting work, Coda — a side table inspired by the gondola’s tail and the shimmer of sea foam — sparked my fascination with texture and how it can bring form to life.

I draw inspiration from materials themselves: their texture, colour and industrial processes. I let them guide the design rather than forcing them to conform. Every piece begins with play — experimenting to find new surfaces, finishes and details that feel alive. All my materials are sourced from UK suppliers I’ve worked with for years, whose craftsmanship forms an essential part of each story.

My influences include designers like Max Lamb, who celebrates the marks of making, and Bethan Laura Wood, whose work embraces joy and colour. My own pieces sit somewhere between those worlds — tactile, expressive, and always rooted in process.

Ultimately, everything I make is designed to invite touch. If someone feels compelled to run their hand over a surface or smile as they engage with a piece, it’s done its job. As one viewer once said, “It’s as exciting to explore with your eyes closed as with them open” — a description I’m proud to live by.