Betony Vernon
Betony Vernon | |
---|---|
Betony Vernon portrait by Lara Giliberto (2011) | |
Born |
August 15, 1968 Tazewell, Virginia |
Residence | Paris, France |
Nationality | American, Italian |
Education | Virginia Commonwealth University, Domus Academy |
Occupation | Designer, Writer |
Known for | Design and sexual anthropology |
Spouse(s) | Barnaba Fornasetti (married 2004–2014) |
Labels | B.V. Betony Vernon, Paradise Found Fine Erotic Jewelry |
Betony Vernon (born August 15, 1968) is an American author, designer and self-described 'sexual anthropologist' based in Paris. Her works in precious metal and marble are inspired by the human body, eroticism and sexual well-being.[1] Vernon is known for creating luxurious, durable and safe Jewel - Tools as a response to the sex toy industry.[2]
Early life and education
Born in Tazewell, Virginia, Vernon is the third of four daughters. Her mother Ann Dearsley Vernon, was a British civil rights activist/art historian and her father was an American pilot/inventor.[3]
In 1990 she graduated Cum Laude from Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in Art History and a double minor in Religious Studies and Goldsmithing.[1]
After graduation, Vernon moved to Florence, Italy to direct the metal-smithing program at Fuji Studio Art Workshop.[4]
In 1992, Vernon developed her first erotic jewelry collection, naming it Sado-Chic.[5]
After 5 years in Florence, she moved to Milan.[3] Here she earned a master’s degree in Industrial Design from Domus Academy.[6] At the same time she founded her first design studio “Atelier B.V.” in Milan and she created one-of-a-kind objects for Luisa Via Roma.[7]
Career
In 1995 and 1998 she designed table objects for Florentine silversmith Pampaloni. During that time, she was also appointed as Design Director for the Italian interior design house Fornasetti.[8][9]
Vernon has collaborated with several fashion designers, including Missoni, Alain Tondowski, Gianfranco Ferré and Jean-Paul Gaultier.[10][11] In 2006, she designed a neckpiece for Swarovski’s Runway Rocks project that was later used by Lady Gaga for her Paparazzi video.[12]
In 2006, Vernon worked with Los Angeles-based photographer Jeff Burton in the museum house of Carlo Mollino in Turin, Italy.[13]
Vernon made “L’Envol” in 2008, a short video for SHOWstudio and her first collaboration with Nick Knight.[14] Betony wrote, hosted, and co-produced “The Boudoir” for MTV Italy. The episodes aired on Love Line, a show dedicated to sexual education.[15]
In November 2012, Vernon designed the Origin Chair, a functional sculpture carved in statuary marble from Monte Altissimo, Italy. It was unveiled in December 2012 at the Triennale Museum of Design and has since traveled to MUDAC - Museum of Design and Contemporary Art, Lausanne.[16][17] In November 2015, the work was exhibited in Vernon’s carte blanche for the Gewerbemuseum, Winterthur.[18][19]
Personal life
From 2004 to 2014, Vernon was married to Barnaba Fornasetti, son of Piero Fornasetti. She lives in Paris, France.[20]
Exhibitions
- 1993 - Primordi, international design, Triennale, Milan
- 1995 - Anni 90, Arte a Milano, Triennale, Milan
- 1999 - Il Classico, Norma e Variazione, Abitare il Tempo, Verona, Italy
- 2003 - Body Craze Selfridges, London
- 2005 - Touch Me, Victoria & Albert Museum, Contemporary Gallery, London
- 2008 - Sex in Design, Design in Sex, Museum of Sex, New York
- 2009 - Red Light Design - Salone del Mobile, Milan
- 2009 - The Fashion Body - Somerset House, London
- 2011 - Alta Rom Alta Moda - Casanatense Library, Rome
- 2012 - Selling Sex - SHOWStudio, London
- 2013 - KAMA - Sex and Design, Triennale Design Museum, Milan
- 2013 - GRASSI Museum of Applied Arts, Leipzig, Germany
- 2015 - Nirvana - Mudac, Lausanne
- 2016 - Nirvana - Gewerbemuseum, Winterthur
- 2016 - Body - Anthropogenicbody, Wroclaw, Poland
Bibliography
- Vernon, Betony (2013). The Boudoir Bible: The Uninhibited Sex Guide for Today. Rizzoli. ISBN 0847840166.
References
- 1 2 Colman, David (August 23, 2013). "Betony Vernon's Guardian Angel". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ↑ "Betony Vernon: Jewel Tools". Rude Magazine. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
- 1 2 Zahm, Olivier (2007). "Betony Vernon". purple Magazine. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ↑ "Ana Belle - I studied jewelry techniques here with Betony... | Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
- ↑ "Sado Chic Set". Arcane Gallery. Retrieved 2016-10-11.
- ↑ "Betony Vernon". Show Studio. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ↑ Luisaviaroma. "Betony Vernon - Luisaviaroma.com". Retrieved 2016-10-11.
- ↑ "Q&A with Designer, Author and Sex Educator Betony Vernon". Time. February 13, 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ↑ "Hey Fornasetti Fanatics! More Fun Collaborations & Custom Designs". ifitshipitshere.blogspot.fr. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
- ↑ "Jean Paul Gaultier @ Paris Womenswear A/W 09". showstudio.com. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
- ↑ Hanania, Estelle (November 23, 2012). "Betony Vernon: Sex & Design". Nowness. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ↑ Phoenix, Helia (April 8, 2010). Lady Gaga: Just Dance: The Biography. Orion Publishing Group. ISBN 1409115704.
- ↑ "Casa Museo Carlo Mollino". Purple Magazine. 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ↑ "L'Envol (Take Flight)' by Betony Vernon". Show Studio. 16 April 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ↑ "Le Boudoir di Betony Vernon - MTV Loveline". Giovanni Consonni. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ↑ "Betony's Boudoir". V Magazine. January 23, 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ↑ "Nirvana - Strange Forms of Pleasure". Mudac. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ↑ "Nirvana - Strange forms of pleasure". Gewerbemuseum. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
- ↑ Festival, Edinburgh International Fashion. "Betony Vernon". Edinburgh International Fashion Festival 2016. Retrieved 2016-10-12.
- ↑ "Betony Vernon (@BetonyVernon) | Twitter". twitter.com. Retrieved 2016-10-19.
Further reading
- Madsen, Susanne (18 December 2012). "Let's Talk About Sex". Dazed. Retrieved 2016-09-25.
- Stagg, Natasha (23 January 2013). "Betony's Boudoir". V Magazine. Retrieved 2016-09-25.
- Nelson, Karin (1 February 2013). "J'adore: Betony Vernon". W. Condé Nast. Retrieved 2016-09-25.
- Brenda Strohmaier (2013). "Her mit der Gerte", Welt am Sonntag, p. 44-46, March 17, 2013.