After having practiced architecture until 1888, in Liege, he turned to the furniture trade and became interested in English productions. In 1891, he left for England and became interested in the Arts and Crafts movement. In 1893, he became a furniture maker. In 1894, he presented a cabinet at the Exposition de la Libre Esthétique in Brussels. It was an immediate success. He militates for the simplicity in the decoration of the home and is the defender of the beauty to the range of all. For that, from 1902, he turns away from the artisanal production, too expensive, to turn to the industrial aesthetic. In 1903, he founded with a Parisian architect, René Dulong, the company "Serrurier et Cie". From 1903 to 1907, the company produced its most beautiful creations.

Gustave Serrurier-Bovy built his own house, the "Villa l'Aube", located in the private park of Cointe, in Liège (listed as an exceptional heritage of Wallonia), and refurbished and decorated the castle of Cheyrelle (Dienne, Cantal), listed as a historical monument.

Serrurier-Bovy must be considered as a precursor of the modern movement and design. The MAMAC in Liège devoted to him, in 2008, a large retrospective entitled "Serrurier, actor of the future". A monograph was published on the same date: "Serrurier-Bovy, un créateur précurseur, 1858-1910", éditions Faton, 2008.