NYX Chair

Pierre-Yves Guenec (b. 1990) is a New York–based French metalsmith and designer whose practice is grounded in rigorous artisanal training, an enduring interest in the timelessness of archetypal forms, and time-honored crafts. He was formally trained in blacksmithing through the prestigious Compagnons du Devoir program in France, following academic studies at the Ateliers de Sèvres and the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts. Choosing a path defined by his passion for craftsmanship and appreciation for material intelligence, Guenec undertook a formative, itinerant apprenticeship with Les Compagnons, refining his technical skills alongside some of Europe’s most respected artisans and furniture makers.

In 2016, he joined the revered master-craftsmen cooperative Ateliers Saint-Jacques, located at the Coubertin domain outside of Paris. There, he spent over six years deepening his metalsmithing practice in close collaboration with the founders of the Fonderie de Coubertin, contributing to projects developed with international designers and architects including Peter Marino, Jean Nouvel, Joseph Dirand, Mathieu Lehanneur, Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, and Konstantin Grcic.

Grounded in this extensive hands-on training and expertise in metalsmithing and bronze-casting techniques, Guenec has dedicated himself to his own artistic expression. In 2022, he established his studio between Paris and New York. Working across disciplines, the studio approaches furniture and sculptural objects as environments—emphasizing the intrinsic qualities of materials through fluid and timeless forms.

Guenec’s ongoing body of work is rooted in his commitment to preserving centuries-old artisanal traditions through contemporary design. Each piece is developed through close, hands-on collaboration with master craftsmen, resulting in works that bear the co-signature of both artist and maker—an approach aligned with the curatorial ethos of Ateliers Courbet.