Barnaby Barford show, London

We're big fans of little things here at Wallpaper*, especially when they happen to be the delicate porcelain creations of dynamic London artist Barnaby Barford, winner of our Best Young Designer award back in 2004. His exquisitely crafted, ironic and often humorous creations, with names like 'Nobody Fucking Move', 'You Sexy Bitch', and 'Struggling Will Only Make It Worse', serve to recontextualize a medium more often associated with staid, quiet craftsmanship.

Click here to see more of Barnaby's work

His latest series of work, entitled Private Lives is on show at the David Gill Galleries and veers even further from traditional themes of ceramic sculpture, drawing on pop culture references like the actress Pamela Anderson, the cartoon dwarf Dopey (visibly excited by Snow White), and ET waiting to use a phone.

The tongue-in-cheek narratives rarely appear overtly vulgar; at first glance the figurines almost resemble playful ornaments from your grandmother's mantelpiece - like the two miniature Victorian ladies elaborately outfitted in soft shades of blue, white and gold. Then you notice the table between them, littered with booze and cigarettes. Granny never seemed so cool.

12 March 2008 | Art