Maker’s Spotlight: The artisans of Ralph Pucci

We love Ralph Pucci and we have a long and glorious history with the luxury furniture design and lighting design house. Headquartered in New York City, the family business was founded in the 1950s as a mannequin fabrication shop. For the past seventy years, the company has grown to a gallery with locations in New York City, London, Los Angeles and Miami. Today, Ralph Pucci is considered one of the world’s best galleries.

The artists and designers that Ralph Pucci represents are constantly pushing the boundaries in both art and design. Regardless, these creatives are steadfast in that they will always remain true artisans. The gallery represents more than fifty artisans, who are well revered for their unique aesthetic and special approach to both their high-level materials and techniques. Special to Pucci’s artists and designers is that they often use (courtesy of the designer’s web site) “time-honored techniques to yield innovative results.”

Elizabeth Garouste epitomizes the French spirit; the artist did many things prior to teaming up with Ralph Pucci. Her time in the fashion industry includes making shoes for high-end fashion houses Sonia Rykiel and Yves Saint Laurent, and collaborating with Philippe Stark (a former classmate) on one of Paris’ hotspots, Les Bains Douches.

Pucci has admired Garouste’s work for over a decade; she initially joined the gallery in 2014. Last year, the artist spent three months at Ralph Pucci International’s sculpture studio. The company’s unique Plasterglass is a proprietary material that offers the raw appearance of plaster with the durability of resin. Initially, the material was used at Pucci’s mannequin repair business… presently, Garouste used the material to create a collection that is a combination of (courtesy of an article for Wallpaper by Pei-Ru Ken) “imagination and functionality.” She further elaborates, “The possibility of sculpture with Plasterglass has allowed me to create more abstract shapes and forms than is possible with more conventional furniture craft. The Plasterglass material works in a very particular way so it is possible to create sculpted forms that can be produced again, which gives a huge freedom.”

The design world has dubbed India Mahdavi as the “reigning Queen of Color.” The designer credits her aesthetics to her Iranian and Egyptian heritage. Born in Tehran, Mahdavi was raised in America, Germany, and France and attended college in both Paris and New York City. A job as artistic director for Christian Liaigre sent her packing back to Paris… and there she has remained.

Mahdavi joined Ralph Pucci in 2008; since that time, she has continued to use simple, high-quality materials such as ceramic, rattan, lacquer, and wood to create furnishings that are the eye-catching pieces in each room. As testament to her broad appeal, Mahdavi’s design of “Sketch” restaurant in London is considered the most Instagrammed in the world.

The self-taught French artisan Eric Schmitt has been creating Art Deco pieces that are a mix between architecture, design, and sculpture. His sculptural, organic furnishings are produced in his workshop by esteemed craftsmen that including bronze and aluminum founders, marble makers, and ceramicists.

Schmitt joined Ralph Pucci in 2006 and last year, he debuted “In and Out” at the gallery’s New York City outpost. His first collection for the gallery in four years, Schmitt pieces touched on playfulness. Using Pucci’s proprietary Plasterglass, Schmitt designed a stool and lounge chair suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. For the designer, is was great fun to work with a new material… one that mimics resin. He said (courtesy of an article by Geoffrey Montes for Galerie Magazine) “We worked exactly as if it were bronze, even choosing a range of colors that is similar to patinas. One process is no more noble than the other.” His team also conjured the Out Standing dining table out of plasterglass, topping the shapely two-pronged base with a circular slab of black granite.”

Partick Naggar had the luxury of growing up in a family of art collectors. Born in Egypt and raised in Paris, the designer was exposed to modern art and surrounded by creatives from the time he was a youngster. Designed for design, he gravitated to lighting design and teamed up with The House of Veronese, a Paris-based design house that was established in 1931. Along with Naggar, Veronese collections seamlessly blend French design with Murano glass craftsmanship.

Naggar is one of Pucci’s oldest contributors; he joined the gallery in 1995. His background in architecture informs his furniture and lighting designs… and is (courtesy of Ralph Pucci’s web site) “a central knowledge, a catalyst of the ideas, forms, plastic and artistic trends in order to create objects and spaces for our environment in the spirit of our times.”

There is no shortage of amazing designers and artists represented under the Ralph Pucci umbrella. And with such a collection of international artists, the gallery continues to serve as a source of inspiration. As an article in Wallpaper noted, “Well before collective design was established as a genre, there was Ralph Pucci.” We could not agree more… Suzanne Lovell recently stated, “I love working with Pucci… it is the place to find great taste, eclectic design, and collaborative interactions. Working hard to elevate their artists and designers, we are always thrilled to promote the work of those they have chosen to represent!”

For more inspiration visit Ralph Pucci