Geraldo de Barros

Geraldo de Barros was a key player in Brazil's Modernist movement during the 1950s. Having initially been a painter close to the European avant-garde and the pioneer of abstract photography in Brazil in the 1940s, de Barros moved into furniture design in the early 1950s.

He founded the company Unilabor in 1954 with a Dominican priest and skilled tradesmen. Unilabor became one of the most important furniture companies in Brazil, but internal disputes led to its closure in 1967. De Barros then founded Hobjeto, another furniture design company, with Aloísio Bione in 1964.

Geraldo de Barros' furniture designs were known for their modernist style, clean lines, and use of materials such as wood, metal, and glass. He also incorporated elements of Brazilian culture and traditions into his designs, such as using traditional weaving techniques in his chairs and incorporating local woods like jacaranda and peroba in his pieces. Overall, his designs were functional, elegant, and timeless.

His work has been exhibited in several museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Pinacoteca do Estado in Sao Paulo. De Barros passed away in 1998, but his legacy continues to influence contemporary artists and designers.