Born in Philadelphia in 1919, Phil Powell studied engineering at Drexel University, After World War 2, he moved to New Hope PA, a long-time artists' colony on the Delaware River. There he built a house and began producing carved furniture while selling Herman Miller pieces as well as Isamo Noguchi lamps to earn money. Encouraged by George Nakashima, in 1953 Powell opened a small shop in New Hope to feature his designs. Eventually Paul Evans came in, and they began a decade-long partnership as Powell-Evans Studio that produced much sought-after collaborative pieces incorporating Powell's woodworking skills with Evan's metalwork. They had a two-man show in 1961 at the Museum of Art & Design in Manhattan. Self-taught, as much a sculptor as a furniture-maker, Powell's decades-long solo career produced elegant chairs, sinous screens and elaborately sculpted cabinets with fantastic interiors that today command prices in excess of $50,000