Gaetano Pesce

Gaetano Pesce, born on November 8, 1939, in La Spezia, Italy, is an architect, designer, and artist recognized for his radical and innovative approach to design and architecture. His work combines organic forms, bold colors, and experimental materials, challenging conventions and integrating a social and political dimension. Throughout his career, he has sought to push the boundaries of traditional design, favoring a dynamic aesthetic adapted to its time and to cultural and technological evolutions.

Pesce studied architecture at the University of Venice, where he distinguished himself through his nonconformist mindset and passion for experimentation. From the outset, he explored new materials, including plastics, polyurethane foam, and resin, which he used to create organic and ever-changing forms. In the 1960s, he joined Gruppo N, a collective of designers and artists advocating for an experimental and multidisciplinary approach, integrating scientific and technological advancements into design.

In 1969, Pesce created one of his most iconic works: the Up5/Up6 chair, also known as "La Donna", produced by B&B Italia. This sculptural armchair in expanded polyurethane foam, accompanied by a spherical ottoman attached by a cord, serves as a powerful metaphor for the condition of women. Through this design, Pesce denounces the social constraints imposed on women, evoking the image of a chained figure. His social commitment through design makes this piece both an artistic manifesto and a functional object.

The Up series marked a turning point in design history and remains a 20th-century icon, exhibited in prestigious museums such as the MoMA in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.