Sergio Rodriguez Biography
The Brazilian architect and designer Sergio Rodrigues was born in 1927 in Rio de Janeiro into a family of artists and intellectuals. After studying at the National School of Architecture in Rio, he graduated in 1952 and decided to concentrate on furniture design. Together with his two Italian designer brothers Hauner, he founded Moveis Artesanal Paranaense, the first modern furniture and art shop in Curitiba. In 1955 he founded Oca, a furniture company based in Ipanema, dedicating himself to the objective of promoting the development and affirmation of Brazilian design in the world, dedicating himself to this mission until 1968.
During the 1960s, Rodrigues also collaborated with the Meia-Pataca design studio, which specialized in affordable, mass-produced furniture. Universally recognized as one of the most important Brazilian designers of all time, Rodrigues has dedicated his entire career to creating furniture lines for hotels, offices and international institutions. Many of his works have enriched the buildings of Brasilia, designed by the great architect Oscar Niemeyer. However, Rodrigues' most celebrated creation is his 1957 Mole armchair, which won first prize at the 1961 International Furniture Competition in Italy, drawing the attention of the design world to its creator. The chair, produced in Italy by ISA, is marketed under the name Sheriff armchair.
Rodrigues' work embodies Brazilian identity, drawing inspiration from traditional shapes, materials and woods such as jacaranda, peroba and imbuia.
