Harry Bertoia

Harry Bertoia (1915–1978) was an Italian-American designer and artist, renowned for his iconic sculptures and furniture. Born in Italy, he emigrated to the United States in 1930 and pursued his studies at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, where he met influential figures such as Charles and Ray Eames and Eero Saarinen. After beginning his career in metalwork and teaching metal craftsmanship, he collaborated with the Eames on the creation of their famous molded plywood chairs.

In 1950, he opened his own studio in Pennsylvania and began working with Hans and Florence Knoll, creating the famous Diamond Chair (1952), a piece that perfectly combines art and functionality thanks to its lightweight metal structure. His work with metal extended far beyond furniture design. Bertoia also devoted himself to sculpture, creating metal works—most notably his celebrated sound sculptures, which produce tones when touched by the wind or by hand. These pieces, along with his other abstract and mobile works, explore the relationship between form, movement, and sound, blurring the boundaries between art and functional design.

Bertoia’s furniture for Knoll, known for its lightness and sculptural appeal, has become a classic of modern design. As he himself said: “If you look at these chairs, they are mainly made of air, like a sculpture.” In addition to his work as a designer, he received numerous awards, including the Craftsman Medal and the Gold Medal of the American Institute of Architects. Throughout his career, Bertoia collaborated with renowned architects such as Eero Saarinen, and his works are now displayed in prestigious institutions including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. His legacy lies in his ability to merge the precision of industrial design with artistic expression, creating objects that transcend simple function.