Johnny Swing

Johnny is a highly accomplished craftsman as well as a creative spirit. He designed the ‘Nickel Couch’ (“upholstered” entirely from five-cent coins) as a tribute to 20th century labour and a symbol of a deserved rest for ambitious hard-working men. His coin furniture series includes the ‘Butterfly Chair’ and ‘¼ Dollar Chair’ whilst the ‘Jar Chair’ is made from baby food jars. These conceptual pieces were shown for the first time in Europe as part of the exhibition in 2002 at the Rabih Hage gallery. His work has also been exhibited at the museum and sculpture park Storm King Art Centre (New York) and the Brattleboro Museum and Art Centre (Vermont). In Johnny’s work, the materials become secondary to the sculptural functional nature of the design. Whilst he is a self proclaimed Junk Rat, his work is sensitive and timeless, with a classic beauty and refined sensibility.



Johnny Swing, Nickel Couch, 2001, Metal