In Memoriam: Fernando Campana

Brazilian designer Fernando Campana. Photo by Miguel Schincariol

Brazilian designer Fernando Campana passed away on November 16, 2022. He was 61.

Fernando and his brother Humberto founded Estudio Campana 1984. The pair, simply known as the Campana Brothers, created iconic works of contemporary design. Always modern, the pieces were still rooted in the culture and traditions of their home country. Indeed, they described their work as having signature Brazilian characteristics; “an abundance of colors, mixtures, and creative chaos.”

Based in São Paulo, the brothers were first known for their furniture, but they soon branched out, exploring architecture, landscaping, and clothing. They noted that seamlessly bridging disciplines and exchanging ideas with other creatives were vital sources of inspiration. Working with multiple brands allowed them to combine “the best of craftsmanship, sustainable production practices, and state-of-the-art technologies.”

The brothers participated in memorable collaborations with fashion and lifestyle brands—most recently with Louis Vuitton this year at Milan Design Week and Design Miami. In celebration of a decade of its Objets Nomades collection of furniture and objects, Estudio Campana presented their colorful Cocoon, Maracatu, and Bomboca sofas. Their body of work has also been extensively showcased at museums and cultural institutions worldwide, including the 35 Revolutions exhibition at MAM Rio in 2020, a 2017 show at the Oscar Niemeyer Museum in Brazil, and the Campanas Wood show at Sweden’s Bildmuseet in 2014.

The Louis Vuitton Objets Nomades collection at Design Miami in 2019, featuring pieces from Estudio Campana. Photo courtesy of Estudio Campana

In 2002, the started crafting its line of limited editions and unique pieces, handmade at the studio. These special editions are represented by international galleries, including Friedman Benda in New York, Carpenters Workshop Gallery in London and San Francisco, Galleria Giustini/Stagetti in Rome, Firma Casa in São Paulo, as well as Luciana Brito Galeria, which started representing the studio earlier this year.

Luciano Brito Galeria opened its first Campana brothers exhibition on November 5th. Entitled Polifonia Campana, the show includes 50 works, many on view for the first time, until January 21, 2023. As Maria Cristina Didero said in her notes about the exhibit, “The work of the Campana brothers goes beyond the limits of everyday life and the practice of design.”

The egg-shaped Cocoon seating from Estudio Campana for Louis Vuitton’s Objets Nomades collection. Photo courtesy of Estudio Campana

Campana pieces are part of permanent collections of renowned museums such as Centre Pompidou and the Musée Des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, and the Vitra Design Museum in Germany. In 2009, Instituto Campana was founded to preserve the siblings’ ever-growing collection for future generations, and to promote design as a tool for social transformation through cultural and educational programs.

In 2013, they were listed by Forbes magazine among the 100 most influential Brazilian personalities. In 2015 and 2014 Wallpaper ranked them, respectively, among the 100 most important and 200 greatest design professionals.

The awards and accolades, received individually and together, are numerous. In 2012 alone they received the Colbert Committee Award in Paris; were honored by Design Week in Beijing; received the Order of Cultural Merit in Brazil; and were awarded the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture; and elected Designers of the Year by Maison & Objet in Paris.

The Bulbo chair designed by Estudio Campana, part of Louis Vuitton’s Objets Nomades collection. Photo courtesy of Estudio Campana

The team at New York’s design gallery Friedman Benda described both Fernando’s and his brother’s legacy via Instagram: “At no point could one have predicted what the brothers would make next, yet it has always seemed totally right, and totally them. In recent years, Fernando devoted himself more and more to his studio, creating collages which have his characteristic inventiveness, lightness of touch, and economy of means. With Fernando’s passing, we can only reflect on how much he has given to those around him, to Brazil, and to the whole world of design.”