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Gaetano Pesce at Contemporary Art & Design


Gaetano Pesce: A Visionary in the Service of Postmodernism

Bukowskis proudly presents two of Gaetano Pesce's (1939–2024) most iconic works. A monumental "Moloch" floor lamp and a "Golgotha" chair will be presented at the leading auction in Scandinavia for contemporary art and design – Contemporary Art & Design.

Gaetano Pesce was an Italian architect and designer who can undoubtedly be considered one of the most influential figures in the postmodern design movement. Through his groundbreaking approach and irresistible desire to break away from the strict ideals of modernism, Pesce shaped a new direction in design and architecture, where individuality and human emotion took centre stage.

Pesce was born in La Spezia, Italy, and from an early age, he displayed a rebellious spirit that would define his entire career. He was among the first to challenge the dominance of modernism, where mass production and mechanical perfection were often prioritised over the unique and personal. With his concept "Nobody's Perfect," Pesce introduced a new view on serial production, where every object, despite being produced in multiple copies, would be unique and marked by the imperfections of the human hand. This challenged the modernist idea that furniture should be uniform and machine-perfect.



Pesce’s works were not merely functional objects; they were also expressive, conceptual art pieces that communicated ideas and emotions. For him, communication was more important than function. This approach often gave his objects deeply symbolic meanings, such as the floor lamp “Moloch” from the early 1970s, which not only served as a light source but also as a powerful metaphor for the downsides of commercialism and consumerism.

As a central figure in the postmodern movement, Pesce influenced many other designers, not least the members of the Memphis Group, which became one of the most prominent collectives in postmodern design in the 1980s. Pesce’s legacy lives on, not only through his groundbreaking works but also through the significant impact he has had on generations of young designers, who continue to be inspired by his courage to challenge norms and push the boundaries of what design can be.





These works will be sold at Contemporary Art & Design

A "Moloch" floor lamp estimate 400 000 – 600 000 SEK
A "Golgotha" chair estimate 200 000 – 300 000 SEK

Viewing October 17–20, Berzelii Park 1, Stockholm
Live auction October 22–23, Arsenalsgatan 2, Stockholm

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Camilla Behrer
Stockholm
Camilla Behrer
Head of Design/ Specialist Modern & Contemporary Decorative Art & Design
+46 (0)708 92 19 77
Eva Seeman
Stockholm
Eva Seeman
Chief Specialist Modern and Contemporary Decorative art and design
+46 (0)708 92 19 69
Jonatan  Jahn
Stockholm
Jonatan Jahn
Head Specialist Contemporary and Modern Design
+46 (0)703 92 88 60
Karl Green
Stockholm
Karl Green
Specialist Modern and Contemporary Decorative Art & Design
+46 (0)700 07 94 25