Maurizio Cattelan is an enigmatic and provocative figure in the contemporary art world, renowned for his irreverent and often unsettling creations. Born in Padua, Italy, in 1960, Cattelan’s artistic career has been characterized by a penchant for challenging societal norms and conventions, frequently blurring the line between art and reality.

One of Cattelan’s most famous works is perhaps his sculpture titled “La Nona Ora” (The Ninth Hour), which depicts Pope John Paul II being struck down by a meteorite. This piece, unveiled in 1999, caused widespread controversy and condemnation from religious groups, yet it also propelled Cattelan into the international spotlight, establishing him as a fearless provocateur unafraid to tackle sensitive subjects.

Throughout his career, Cattelan has continued to push boundaries with his art, using humor, irony, and subversion to critique various aspects of contemporary society. His installations often feature unexpected juxtapositions and absurd scenarios, forcing viewers to confront their own preconceptions and prejudices.

One of his most audacious works is “America,” a fully functional solid gold toilet installed in the Guggenheim Museum in 2016. Visitors were invited to use the toilet, blurring the boundaries between high art and everyday experience while also commenting on issues of wealth, excess, and inequality.

Cattelan’s work is characterized by its irreverence and its willingness to challenge the status quo. Whether he’s suspending a taxidermy horse from the ceiling or creating a life-size wax effigy of himself hanging from a coat rack, his art consistently defies categorization and demands attention.

Despite his success and notoriety, Cattelan remains something of a mystery. He rarely gives interviews and shies away from the public eye, preferring to let his work speak for itself. Yet, through his art, he continues to provoke, inspire, and challenge audiences around the world, cementing his place as one of the most influential artists of his generation.

The Italian brand Gufram was founded around 1965 and is characterized by Pop Art and Radical Design. The use of polyurethane foam resulted in unusual objects that experimented with shapes and colors. Radical Design was a design movement that reached its peak at the end of the 1960s and beginning of the 1970s in Italy. As one of the most important avant-garde movements in design history, it continues to inspire numerous designers and creators to this day. The best known is certainly the Cactus coat stand, which was initially only available in green and has now been reissued in various colors.