Gaetano Pesce children's armchairs

In 1939, Italian architect Gaetano Pesce is born in La Spezia in northern Italy. During his 50-year career, Pesce would work as an architect, urban planner and industrial designer and become one of Italy's foremost 20th-century design pioneers.

Gaetano Pesce studies architecture at the University of Venice under famous names such as Carlo Scarpa and Ernesto Rogers. Since the 1960s, Gaetano Pesce has been making a name for himself for his ability to combine art and design, which can be seen in interiors, products and architecture. When it comes to architecture, perhaps his most famous creation is the Organic Building in Osaka, Japan. A building recognised for its vertical gardens that conceal a complex, computer-controlled hydration system that maintains the survival of the plants. Other famous buildings include Les Halles ACIH from 1979 and Par de la Villette from 1985, both located in Paris.

Since the 1960s, Gaetano Pesce has been studying the relationship between function and form in utilitarian and decorative objects such as furniture, jewellery and shoes. Pesce challenges prevailing norms and standards through his designs. He connects art and society with design through his organic designs. His clients include B&B Italia, Vitra and Cassina. Gaetano Pesce's designs are characterised by an inventive use of colour and materials. His creations are now in the collections of several famous museums such as MoMA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Victoria and Albert Museum, to name but a few.

Perhaps Gaetano Pesce's most famous piece of furniture is the design classic Big Mama, also known as La Mamma, Donna and Up Chair. Although over half a century has passed since its launch, the feminist armchair continues to inspire people around the world. The armchair can be interpreted as the mother while the footstool is her child, but it can also be read from a socially critical perspective where the woman is chained in the home with a shackle. Big Mama and other iconic furniture signed by Gaetano Pesce can be found at NO GA.