Celebrity Designer, Bobby Berk returns to his roots during “The South’s Next Wave: Design Challenge”

Bobby’s come a long way from his humble beginnings in the South. He arrived to NYC less than 10 years ago with barely a dollar to his name, but a whole lot of drive, talent and ambition to make up for it. Bobby has quickly become the new “It Guy” in modern furniture and design. These days, celebrities such as Susan Sarandon, Brooke Shields, Sam Worthington Drew Barrymore, and Tori Amos have graced the doors of his Bobby Berk Home stores located throughout the US. Even Will and Jada Smith sleep between Bobby Berk Home sheets. In 2009, his stores made the list of gay icon Rupaul’s Top Favorite Things, but Bobby says “I’m still waiting on that call from Oprah.” Bobby has made multiple guest appearances on HGTV, Bravo, TLC, and NBC lending his design talents on residential home projects to designing the sets of hit shows. His growing empire keeps him traveling around the world looking for future BBH locations, dropping in on his factories to check on new product designs, and working on his many design projects from Hong Kong to Miami. When invited by David Goodrowe and Tim Hobby to be a part of [The South’s Next Wave: Design Challenge at The Museum of Modern Art & Design in Atlanta, GA, he was delighted to return home to the deep south.

The South’s Next Wave: Design Challenge, is part exhibition, part competition. The exhibition paired designers of interior spaces with Atlanta-based object designers, who together created imaginative vignettes throughout the museum. Bobby paired with Joe Manus who brought his amazing Mood Rocking Bed as a starting point of inspiration for Bobby. “The moment I saw Joe’s bed, it took me back to my childhood growing up in the south.”, Bobby said. “My favorite thing to do in the summer was to sleep out in the forest on the farm I grew up on. I used to beg my mom to let me put a real bed out in forest so I could lie there and listen to the sounds of the forest while still having all the comforts of home. My design for this competition will take you to that forest in the deep south, complete with the low hanging trees, stars in the sky, and crackling campfire slowing burning out as you fall asleep.”

On the opening night, Bobby’s unique design quickly became a fan favorite of Museum board members, local celebrities, and the 100’s of guest that came to see the exhibit. The South’s Next Wave: Design Challenge runs from November 11th - March 31th, 2012 at The Museum of Modern Art & Design in Atlanta.

For more information about the exhibit please visit http://www.museumofdesign.org/2012/03/call-for-submissions/. You can also find more information about Bobby and his stores at http://www.bobbyberkhome.com.