GAETANO PESCE

Gaetano Pesce is a celebrated Italian architect, artist, and designer whose career has spanned over five decades, earning him international recognition for his innovative approach to materials and form. Born in 1939 in La Spezia, Italy, Pesce studied architecture at the University of Venice, where he started to develop his unique design philosophy.

Early in his career, Pesce demonstrated an eagerness to experiment and push the boundaries of industrial design. His furniture pieces are characterized by their unique approach to materials and their underlying narratives. Pesce is renowned for exploring the possibilities of new materials, such as polyurethane foam and resin, challenging traditional notions of what furniture should look like and how it should function.

Perhaps one of his most famous works is the UP series, designed in 1969 for B&B Italia. This collection, especially the UP5 chair and accompanying UP6 ottoman, quickly became iconic. The chair's anthropomorphic design, resembling a woman's figure, and the way it was vacuum-packed for shipping and would "inflate" when opened were groundbreaking at the time.

Pesce's furniture designs often blur the line between art and design. His pieces are often characterized by their irregular, organic forms, bold colors, and textural elements. They are not just functional objects but also evoke emotional responses and provoke thought, making each piece an embodiment of a story or a concept. This can be seen in works like the "Nobody's Perfect" chair, where the mix-and-match approach to colors and materials conveys a powerful message about embracing imperfections and diversity.

In addition to furniture design, Pesce has made significant contributions to the field of architecture and art. His work ranges from buildings to interior designs, exhibitions, industrial products, and even jewelry. Regardless of the medium, his work remains consistent in its expressiveness, inventiveness, and the blurred boundaries between art and design.

Gaetano Pesce's creative vision has not only influenced generations of designers but has also transformed our understanding of design. His work is held in numerous museum collections worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.