In The Frame: Willo Perron
From creating a line of Knoll Furniture to Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter tour stage and Rihanna’s Super Bowl half-time set, French-Canadian designer Willo Perron is a well-established creative polymath. What inspires him? Thelonious Monk, Salman Toor, and Kilimanjaro at sunrise
Willo Perron photographed by Amanda Demme
What are you working on currently?
Willo Perron: ‘A mix of studio and personal projects that aren’t public yet, but we did just launch a new chair with Knoll.’
What ritual or routine keeps you going?
WP: ‘Most mornings start with tennis before heading into the studio. If we’re talking creative input, I’m always researching across different sources – books, film, exhibitions, online, etc. And when I travel, I'm on the ground exploring the area through its museums, galleries, local markets, restaurants – whatever exposes me to what is distinctive about that place’
What work of art made you see things differently?
WP: ‘Music was probably my gateway drug into any of the creative fields. There’s a moment in Straight, No Chaser, the documentary on Thelonious Monk, that has stayed with me: he’s rehearsing before a show in Europe, shifting time signatures mid-performance, while the band continues on. Watching him deconstruct time like that made me understand the depth of his genius. When you get so good at something it’s at a point where it no longer controls you, but instead you see above the clouds.’
The stage set designed by Willo Perron for Rihanna’s 2023 Super Bowl halftime show. Photo: Sipa USA / Alamy
Which artist or designer from history do you wish you knew more about?
WP: ‘I was just in Sao Paulo and someone recommended the book Francis Bacon in Your Blood by Michael Peppiatt. I just started reading it, and I’m obsessed with him and his work.’
What artists or designers are you excited about right now?
WP: ‘In the basement of the MASP in Sao Paulo, there is this one Salman Toor painting, and seeing it reminded me of how much I love his work. There is something very kind and vulnerable that comes through his paintings. On the same trip, I came across the sculptor Laura Vinci. It was my first time seeing her work and I found some really interesting ideas – like her use of smoke and perishable materials. There was an element of impermanence that really struck me – something that parallels the nature of working on shows and temporary spaces.’
Amongst Willo Perron’s current favourite picks at Christie’s is Richard Serra (1938-2024), Model for 'T.W.U.' Hot-rolled steel and concrete. 39 x 20 x 20 in. (99 x 50.8 x 50.8 cm.), executed in 1980. Offered in Post-War to Present on 30 September 2025 at Christie’s in New York. © 2025 Richard Serra / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York
What’s your design ‘no no’?
WP: ‘The interesting thing is, at least for me, the very things we consider completely off-limits are often the most worth examining. The ugliest or most garish elements can be compelling when studied closely. For me, nothing is off the table; everything deserves a closer look.’
Your favorite view, anywhere in the world?
WP: ‘Yet to be discovered, but the view of the sunrise on top of Kilimanjaro is up there. And a few more simple ones—like looking out from my apartment in Paris overlooking the river, or making first tracks on a perfect ski day.’
Most memorable art or design show you’ve seen in the past year?
WP: ‘Markus Lüpertz’s show at Michael Werner Gallery. It was their inaugural show at their LA gallery, and it really stuck with me. It just felt very special. And Arthur Jafa's pieces at the Bourse de Commerce.’
Top picks at Christie’s currently?
WP: These works on paper by Cy Twombly and Ed Ruscha; the gravitas of this Louise Bourgeois and the unexpected scale of this Richard Serra.
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