Gaetano Pesce, an Italian designer and architect noted for his humorous, brilliantly colored furniture, died at the age of 84 on Thursday, according to his official Instagram profile.
The New York-based designer had been coping with “health-related setbacks,” particularly in the previous year, but remained “positive, playful, and ever curious,” according to the statement.
“With deep hearts, we announce the demise of creative inventor Gaetano Pesce. Over the course of six decades, Gaetano transformed the realms of art, design, and architecture, as well as the transitional spaces between them. No one can equal his creativity and nerve.
Among Pesce’s most iconic designs were the “Up” chairs, a series of malleable, humanoid seats made of foam and stretch cloth.
The most renowned of these depicted a beautiful woman bound to a circular footstool, symbolizing men’s tyranny of women.
Pesce is survived by his children, relatives, and “all who adored him,” according to the statement. “His uniqueness, creativity, and special message live on through his art.”
Pesce was born in La Spezia in 1939, studied architecture in Venice, and then taught for 28 years in Strasbourg, France, as well as Pittsburgh, Milan, Hong Kong, Sao Paulo, and New York.
He moved to New York City in 1980, although his work can be seen in permanent collections around the world, including MoMA, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Pompidou Centre in Paris.