Gaetano Pesce

Material, Colour and Uniqueness

Gaetano Pesce (1939–2024) was one of the most radical figures in international design. An Italian architect, artist and designer, he transformed imperfection and diversity into central elements of his work, challenging the standardisation of industrial production.

His research explored experimental materials such as resin, polyurethane and felt, used to create objects deliberately different from one another. Colour, irregularity and variation became part of the design itself, in a language suspended between art, design and production.

Among his best-known works are the UP5_6 armchair (1969) for B&B Italia, I Feltri (1987) and Tramonto a New York (1980) for Cassina. His experimentation with resin found one of its most recognisable expressions in the Fish Design collection, characterised by fluid forms, transparency and ever-changing colour combinations.

Represented in the collections of major international museums, including MoMA in New York, Pesce left a deeply personal mark on contemporary design and vintage design, making the uniqueness of each object central to his creative research.