Claire Catherine McGovern

About Claire Catherine McGovern

Claire McGovern has designed residences, office and restaurant interiors, curated art and design installations, developed and launched a variety of luxury design maker brands. Originally from Ireland, her entrepreneurial days began with a critically acclaimed art and design gallery in San Francisco. In New York City, she expanded her interior design and art advisory practice while playing a pivotal role in the development of several award winning design manufacturers. In 2017 McGovern introduced her first sustainable design collection made by hand in rural Ireland. Beginning with a series of Irish wool carpets, tapestries and textiles, the collection is dedicated to the highest quality, responsible and authentic craftsmanship.\"Designer Claire McGovern has brought her unique brand of environmentally aware Gesamtkunstwerk or \"Total Design\" to bear on projects from San Francisco to New York\" Rhyme founder Claire McGovern was introduced to architecture, art and design at an early age. Born and educated in Dublin, she has worked in California and New York where various positions with a museum, gallery and interior design firm led initially to the launch of her own art and design gallery. She has since worked variously as an interior designer, curator and design business director. In 2017 she fulfilled a long term objective of realizing her own design collection made entirely by hand in rural Ireland. We believe all design worth making is sustainable and based on a great story. Composed of traditionally spun Irish wool, we approach carpet & tapestry creation as customizable and sculptural floor or fiber art. With responsible craft and provenance as founding principles, we source genuine Irish wool from the spectacular west coast of Ireland. Fleece is sent for processing and spinning to historic Irish woolen mills and dyed by hand using only natural and non toxic dyes. We also prioritize the use of quality wool fiber in its most sustainable and natural state, undyed. Yarn is tufted into design by the hand of a master craftsman. One carpet design can take weeks to perfect with lead times beginning at 6-8 weeks and select inventory maintained in Dublin & New York City Specific Skills- contemporary design business and brand development and sales - Art Advisory services, custom art and design concepts for private and commercial interests - Curatorial skills, exhibition design/presentation - Creative design & art brand marketing and public relations - Interior architecture, design consultation

Experience

1. Creative Director

   Rhyme Studio Inc

   Jan 2002 — Present · New York, NY, US

   Rhyme is a multi-disciplinary interiors, art advisory and design manufacturer based in New York City with a production studio in rural Ireland. Collections feature sculptural Irish wool rugs, tapestries and textiles and all custom requests are welcomed. Founder Claire McGovern has designed residences, spas, restaurant and office interiors, curated art and design installations and collaborated with talented designers and artists. Born and educated in Dublin, she has worked as an interior designer, curator and art advisor, embracing the influences of West Coast California to East Coast neoclassical and contemporary style along with her Irish and European heritage. Her entrepreneurial days began in 2002 with an acclaimed art and design gallery evolving into the multi-disciplinary practice she operates today from Brooklyn. Client & company affiliations have included Lexus, Google, Facebook, Design Within Reach and experimental, award winning New York City based lighting design manufacturers.

Education

• Sorbonne Université

  Bachelor of Fine Arts - BFA, French Studies

  1992 — 1993

• University College Dublin

  Master's degree, Art History & Administration

  1995 — 1997

• Trinity College, Dublin

  B.A, Philosophy and French

  1991 — 1995