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Recognized as one of the pioneers of the Modern Movement in Architecture and Design, Kathleen Eileen Moray Gray was born into an aristocratic family near Enniscorthy, a market town in the south-east of Ireland. From an early age, her artistic flair was encouraged by her parents, and she had the chance to travel with her father on artistic trips to Italy and Switzerland.

Gray became interested in the philosophy of Art Nouveau whilst studying at the Slade School of Fine Art in London. She loved the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, a native of Glasgow, whose influence we find in her work.

Having spent most of her adult life being influenced by her surroundings in Paris and the south of France, Eileen Gray’s designs are considered classics of modern furniture. Vogue and Yves Saint Laurent appreciated her work, while one of her pieces was auctioned in Paris for 21.9 million euros, a record for decorative art of the 20th century.