Born in Innsbruck in 1917, Ettore Sottsass has been one of the most influential and important figures of the 20th century design scene, creating iconic postmodern furniture.

His father was an architect, leading him to be raised in a design-oriented world. He followed his interest through to a later age, graduating from the Polytechnic University in 1939, before serving in the military during World War II and spending years in a labor camp in Yugoslavia. On his arrival home, he worked to restore homes damaged by the way with his father, and funded his own practice in Milan working with interior design, ceramics and painting.

While in Milan, admiring the bold and beautiful culture and scenery, he married his wife Fernanda Pivano. She introduced him to the literary society of the city and to many writers and artists that would later influence his work beyond his initial approach to industrial design. He designed a variety of work including home and office objects, jewelry, glass, furniture and homewares, as well as building as interiors. 

He founded his industrial design and architecture studio in 1947, relocating to New York ten years later to work alongside George Nelson. Here, he established huge collaboration projects with Poltronova, Olivetti, Superstudio and Archizoon Associati. 

The foundation of Memphis Group in 1981, of which he was a founding member expanded his experience into elaborate shops and showrooms, company identities, exhibitions, interiors, Japanese consumer electronics, and furniture of all kinds. 

His activity as a designer and architect continued until 2009, the year of his death. Today, Sottsass’ work can be found in the permanent collections of international museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Centre Georges Pompidou and the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Design historian and critics have weighted in on the figure of Ettore Sottsass and the impact he has had on the modern field. Many iconic designers can be instantly recognized by some of their most important works and pieces, but with Sottsass what remains of his numerous life achievements is his approach to the discipline: long identified as the rebellious, disruptive designer, his constant dissatisfaction with industry standards and rules and the continuous rejection of trends and fashion, he pushed the boundaries of creative processes to the extreme.