GAE AULENTI (1927-2012)
Gae Aulenti was a prominent postwar Italian designer and architect. Aulenti attended Politecnico di Milano in the mid 1950s, one of only two women in her class, and established her design practice in the same city shortly thereafter. It was during these early years that Aulenti’s unique design philosophy emerged, one that centered on the ultimate freedom of the designer from the limitations of a singular medium. What resulted was a body of work that spanned all realms — buildings, furniture, lighting, stage sets, interiors and graphics — and lent her fluid approach to media and material to some of the most important architectural and interior designs of the late 20th century. Her creative recognition and success was echoed in a multitude of international exhibitions between the 1960s and 1970s that showcased her work.
In 1979 she became the artistic director at FontanaArte, creating many designs that are still in the company's catalogue. She also designed work included products for Poltronova, Zanotta, Louis Vuitton, and Artemide, to name a few.
Her architectural projects were many and prestigious, ending her career with over 200 built works including the refurbishment and a new layout for the Musée d‘Orsay and the Musée National d’Art Moderne at the Centre Pompidou.
She was the recipient of the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic and was also elected as an Honorary Member of the American Institute of Architects. Following her death, the Tiennale di Milano museum hosted a solo exhibition that featured a selection of her most iconic design objects made from 1962 to 2008.
Jumbo Coffee Table
c. 1970
Marble
14”H x 44.5”D x 44.5”W
On loan from private collection
“I think for a woman to succeed in this profession she must have a strong passion, energy and be able to slip in unnoticed … Then, one day you’re just there.”
Slesin, Suzanne., “Women and Design in Milan”, NY Times, Jan. 15, 1981
“Aulenti’s success as a female designer in postwar Italy is unmatched. As Aulenti told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera last year, ‘Architecture is a male profession, but I never took notice of that.’”
Cascone, Sarah., “Gae Aulenti, Age 84 Dies”, Art News, November 5, 2012
"‘There are plenty of other talented female architects, but most of them seem to link up with men,’ said Aulenti, who divorced twice and is survived by her daughter, the costume designer Giovanna Buzzi, and a granddaughter. ‘I've always worked for myself, and it's been quite an education. Women in architecture must not think of themselves as a minority, because the minute you do, you become paralyzed. It is most important to never create the problem.’"
Wainwright, Oliver., “Gae Aulenti Obituary”, The Guardian, November 5 2012
