MILO BAUGHMAN: MODERN LEGEND

ABOVE: The clean lines of the "Limited Edition" day chaise reflect Baughman's Modern aesthetic. ABOVE: Originally presented in 1965 as the "Giant Swivel Tub Chair," this classic chair is often called the "Hug Chair." BELOW: Created in the late 1970s, Baughman's circular furnishings, such as the "1/2 + 1/4 Circle Group," presented a new concept in design.

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"When I left Art Center, I thought Modern design would change the world," Baughman recalls. "Now, I no longer have such lofty hopes, but perhaps the world is just a bit better off because of it. In any event, good Modern has already proven to be the most enduring, timeless and classic of all design movements."

Upon completing his studies, Baughman worked as an interior and custom furniture designer for Frank Brothers, the first major all-Modern specialty store on the West Coast. He left Frank Brothers to become a free-lance designer in 1947, and founded Milo Baughman Design, Inc. that same year. Fortunate to be identified with the budding "California Modern" movement of the late '40s and '50s, Baughman designed pieces for Pacific Iron and Glenn of California – placing the companies on the design map.

Soon after, he was commissioned by Drexel to design a major line, bringing him to North Carolina. He continued his adventure up the East Coast to Massachusetts, where he introduced "The Milo Baughman Collection" for Winchendon Furniture of Massachusetts in 1952. From there, he went on to design lines for Arch Gordon of Chicago, Directional, Lane and Woodard, among others. By the 1960s, the name "Milo Baughman" had become synonymous with Modern design. Throughout the 1970s and '80s, he created lighting for George Kovacs, Inc., artwork for Greg Copeland, Inc., and area rugs for Bigelow; and in the '90s, he designed an outdoor furniture line for Tropitone, for which he still designs.

Today, Baughman lives and works from his office and studio in Salt Lake City, Utah – the state he's called home for more than 20 years. In 1969, he was invited by his church to establish and chair the Department of Environment Design at Brigham Young University in Provo, where he continued as chairman and adjunct professor for six years. He relocated to Virginia for 12 years, then returned to Utah and BYU, where he acted as a senior lecturer for nine years.

Baughman has also lectured at Rhode Island School of Design, the University of Tennessee, the University of Wisconsin and North Carolina State, among others.

Like the works of all true masters, Baughman's furniture has been exhibited in museums and shows throughout the United States, including the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art in Winston-Salem, N.C.; the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh; and the "High Styles" show at the Whitney Museum of Art in New York. In addition, he was inducted into the Furniture Designer's Hall of Fame in 1987.

For more information on Baughman's designs, contact his studio at 801/539-0448, or call Thayer Coggin, Inc. at 336/841-6000. FD

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