applying the same rigour to form, proportion, and making. In September–October 2023 he presented Tough Moment, his debut sculpture exhibition at Paul Smith, 9 Albemarle Street, Mayfair, timed with London Design Festival and Frieze. The series comprised eighteen metal and stone works made via laser cutting, milling, water-jet cutting, casting, and hand assembly, exploring balance, tension, and the beauty of manufacturing. Hilton describes sculpture as a chance to create “without any rules, boundaries or creative constraint,” revealing an industrial aesthetic refined by hand. He was appointed Royal Designer for Industry (2004) and remains one of the UK’s most influential design voices.

2023 · Tough Moment (solo sculpture exhibition), Paul Smith Gallery Space, Albemarle Street, Mayfair, London — Hilton’s first solo exhibition of sculpture, presenting eighteen works in metal and stone. The show explored industrial processes including laser cutting, milling, water-jet cutting, folding, and casting, reflecting his enduring interest in structure, balance, and form.

Designer‐drawn, heritage‐touched. Based on Hilton’s sketches, these rugs were made in Afghanistan, India, and Turkey, each named for its place of creation, including Benares, Usahk, Mirzyan and honour local craftsmanship while extending Hilton’s form-focused design into textiles.

ARTIST STATEMENT

“My collaboration with Christopher Farr Editions was a departure into textile design, starting from a sketchbook and evolving into rugs crafted in Afghanistan, India, and Turkey. By naming the designs for their region, such as Benares, I aimed to link abstraction with geography and craft, celebrating the origins of each piece as much as the gesture behind it.”

Château Montlabert, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2018
A structured Bordeaux blend with layers of dark cherry, cassis, cedar, and graphite, framed by a precise tannic backbone. Balanced yet powerful, it stands as an architectural wine in both form and finish.

Why it pairs with Matthew Hilton
Hilton’s sculpture is defined by hard lines, balance, and clarity — a discipline honed through decades of furniture design. This Saint-Émilion reflects the same qualities: strength built on structure, harmony across elements, and an enduring elegance that reveals itself over time.