Bill Curry

Designer Bill Curry (1927-1971) lived at the crossroads of art, design, and engineering in an era defined by the space race, pop culture, and a new forward-looking optimism.
He captured the spirit of the 1960s to 1970s with his iconic lamps.
From his unique perspective in Los Angeles, he is credited with developing the first "total look" lamp forms - eliminating the concept of base, bulb and shade to exploit the bare bulb in a playful, self-contained unit. Bill Curry was recognized as one of California's leading designers when he died at the age of 43.

Bill Curry had a multidisciplinary background, studying art before beginning his career as an advertising executive, graphic designer and art director in the aerospace industry. After gaining some experience, he started his own furniture company, Design Line Inc, in 1962.

During the space age, pop culture and futuristic style, Bill Curry created collections that exemplified American design. His Stemlite collection was presented in the Soviet Union, Yugoslavia and Iraq.

In 1969, with more than 50 national design awards to his credit, including the New York Art Directors Club Distinguished Achievement Award, Curry was described by the Los Angeles Times as "one of California's leading designers" just before his untimely death two years later. His legacy lives on today as one of the true pioneers of American design in the space age.