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Being an avant garde artist, she constantly reacted to new art movements and her individuality and ideas developed in Paris against its vibrant and artistic backdrop. She had a new approach to shape, line, the use of color, materials and textures, and the human sensibility of her work continues to inspire designers today. Her inventive use of new materials and unique designs manifest an explicit engagement with pure form and line yet were always functional, sensible and comfortable.

Gray's architecture sought to address the changing political and social attitudes. In contrast to her contemporaries, who were often more concerned with the aesthetic forms of architectural design, Gray also addressed the occupant's psychological and spiritual needs. Gray's buildings demonstrate a profound knowledge for space, the use of light, and ingenious planning. She continued throughout her life to find new solutions, to explore the use of new materials and most of all to design for the people. Her approach is a spiritual manifestation of a personal statement that continuously directed itself toward human culture.

Following are some favorite Eileen Gray quotes:

To create, one must first question everything.



A house is not a machine to live in. It is the shell of man, his extension, his release, his spiritual emanation.



We must ask nothing of artists but to be of their own time.



The future projects light, the past only clouds.



~ Eileen Gray