Gaetano Pesce

GAETANO PESCE (La Spezia, Italy, 1939).
“Olo Invitation” (Invitations for the exhibition at the Modernariato Gallery, Milan), 2001.
Polychrome resin.
Provenance: Private collection, Venice (Pieces of Venice Gallery).
Hand-signed in white ink.
Measurements: 18.5 x 16 cm (x2).
These two polychrome resin masks were conceived as invitations for Gaetano Pesce’s exhibition at the Modernariato Gallery in Milan, organized to mark the launch of the Olo lamp in 2001. Far from serving a purely promotional function, each invitation was crafted as a unique piece, with variations in design, color, and form, transforming the medium of communication itself into a one-of-a-kind work of art. This strategy encapsulates one of the fundamental principles of Pesce’s thinking: the assertion of difference and singularity in the face of the standardization inherent in industrial production. The anthropomorphic appearance of the invitations, bordering on the ritual and the theatrical, resonates with Pesce’s interest in the symbolic dimension of the object. The vibrant polychromy, fluid forms, and absence of a repeatable model underscore the designer’s identity.
Gaetano Pesce’s relationship with the Galleria Modernariato in Milan was particularly significant in the early 2000s, when this space established itself as a platform for showcasing the most experimental trends in Italian design. In April 2001, the gallery hosted an exhibition dedicated to Pesce, coinciding with the launch of the Olo lamp for Bernini.
Trained as an architect at the University of Venice, Pesce forged a career that constantly challenged the boundaries between architecture, design, art, and the applied arts. His collaborations with firms such as B&B Italia, Vitra, and Cassina were marked by extensive experimentation with synthetic materials—particularly resins and polyurethane—used not merely as technical resources but as vehicles for artistic expression capable of introducing chance, imperfection, and variability into the manufacturing process. Based in New York since 1980, where he pursued an intense professional and teaching career, Gaetano Pesce established himself as one of the most influential figures in contemporary design. His work, featured in institutions such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, has made a decisive contribution to expanding the disciplinary boundaries of design.