Postmodernism in Europe

Ettore Sottsass

Ettore Sottsass (1917-2007) was an Italian architect and designer. He was a designer during the Contemporary art period or Postmodernism art period in Europe. He worked in many mediums and designed jewelry, glass, lighting, furniture and office, and home equipment.

The Memphis Group, Sottsass Associati, and the Olivetti typewriter were prominent creations during his lifetime.

In 1980, Sottsass founded the Memphis Group that was an architecture and design group in Italy. This group clashed the most unexpected colors and shapes to create vivid and lively furniture. They designed furniture, lights, fabrics, ceramics, carpets, and so much more.

Most struggled to understand their bizarre creations as they wandered far from Sullivan’s famous axiom, ‘form follows function.’ The Memphis group popularized colorful geometric shapes in furniture during the 1990s and had many well-known customers who collected their pieces. The group was active till 1998.

Sottsass and his colleagues also founded Sottsass Associati as their designs gained popularity. This design consultancy served as an architectural firm and became his main focus in 1985, thus leaving Memphis. They designed stores, showrooms, and furniture. Their consultancy is still active today and carries on their legacy.