Raw Design
Portland, OR
ARTIST'S STATEMENT
Robert Wilhelm surprises viewers with his exploration of form, function and surface manipulation, while at the same time adopting a playful approach to making everyday objects. His pepper mills and salt shakers are handmade and designed both to accent your home and provide years of functional enjoyment. Their shapes, either turned on a lathe, shaped, hand-built or carved, all have an adjustable ceramic grinder with a lifetime warranty.
Working with Native American totems and fetishes in the mid-1990s inspired Wilhelm's pepper mill and saltshaker collection. He partnered with William Bounds Ltd. to create the "Pep Art" collection available worldwide through Bounds. Since then, Robert has been developing functional art pieces, and has a number of lines available in a range of styles and vibrant hand-painted color combinations.