Betony Vernon

“Nothing reveals the functionality of the objects Betony Vernon designs. Yet, her works are at the service of the body, exacerbated, loved. Betony Vernon is invested in the field of erotic and sensual doing. The development of her work is multidisciplinary, spanning sessions of practical teaching and curative sharing, the writing of her book The Boudoir Bible currently translated in 7 languages and the design of sublime objects — jewels, sculpture, furniture, objets d’art — as well as happenings. The most recent public happening was in 2017 at the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, France. Through this wide fan of mediums, none of which abstract the human body, Betony Vernon signs an aesthetic of wellness, a sophisticated interaction to the other and above all, to oneself.” — Michele Heuze, 2017 Daring, provocative and boundary-defying, Betony Vernon is an American-born designer, sexual anthropologist and author based in Paris. Her aesthetic is formed by her explorations in spirituality, sex, sensuality and the erotic body realm. She holds degrees in Art History and Metalsmithing from Virginia Commonwealth University as well as a master’s degree in Industrial Design from Domus Academy in Milan, Italy. In 2017 she certified as a clinical hypnotherapist in order to further her ongoing research and transformational work in sexual well-being, abuse and trauma. Her design work has been included in a number of international exhibitions from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London to the Triennale Design Museum in Milan. She has also designed jewelry and objects for several brands including Missoni, Gianfranco Ferré, Alexander Wang, Pampaloni and Fornasetti. Vernon was also the design director for Fornasetti from 1996-2012. In 2002 her erotic jewelry collection, composed of over 400 functional jewels and objects in sterling silver and 18 karat gold, became the interface for what she describes as her mission to empower women and men to enjoy and share greater pleasure. Rizzoli International published Vernon’s first book The Boudoir Bible, The Uninhibited Sex Guide for Today in February 2013. The tome is currently available in 7 languages. A re-edition of the French version published by Robert Laffont was released in November 2016 reaching bestseller status. Vernon’s designs are crafted in Italy using natural, durable materials such as gold, silver, marble, leather and wood. The Origin Chair, a functional sculpture carved in statuary marble from Italy, was unveiled in December 2012 at the Triennale Design Museum in Milan and has since traveled to MUDAC-Museum of Design and Contemporary Art in Lausanne. In November 2015 the work was also exhibited in Vernon’s carte blanche Installation for the Gewerbemuseum in Winterthur. In 2017, Vernon unveiled the Boudoir Box for the first time to the general public during MEDUSA, a group exhibition at the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, France. The transportable work was created in 1999 to present her erotic jewelry designs to collectors around the world. A selection of her designs is currently exhibited in Winterthur at the Gewerbemuseum in the group exhibition Federn/ Feathers 2019-2020. Vernon’s ultimate goal both as author and designer is to “dismantle the pleasure taboo.” www.betonyvernon.com www.youtube.com/user/betonyv   [This episode contains sensitive and adult subject matter of a sexual nature. Discretion is advised for listeners under 18 years old.]