Cooper Hewitt says...
Humberto (b. 1953) and Fernando (b. 1961) Campana are Brazilian designers known for using mundane, everyday objects such as wood scraps, rope, stuffed animals, and discarded plastic for furniture designs, which reflect the spirit of Brazilian life and culture. Humberto originally studied law and later joined his brother, Fernando a trained architect, to form Estudio Campana in 1983. Based in Sao Paulo, the brothers’ have adopted a low-tech, artisanal approach to design, employing quotidian, readily available, and often recycled materials to craft high design. Together, they have designed idiosyncratic, evocative, and sometimes humorous works. Inspired by the creative chaos of Brazilian street life and every day scenarios, the brothers have excelled in their ability to transform seemingly worthless materials into nontraditional and thought-provoking furniture pieces.
The Campana brothers produce limited edition pieces in their studio and have worked in partnership with international manufacturing companies such as Alessi, Artecnica, Baccarat, Corsi Design, Edra, Plus Design, and Trousseau, among others. Their work has been exhibited internationally as well as collected by institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art; the Museum of Modern Art; Centre Georges Pompidou; the Museum of Modern Art, Sao Paulo; and Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, where they curated the exhibition Campana Brothers Select in 2008.
