Humberto Campana

Humberto Campana (1953) and his brother Fernando (1961) co-founded Studio Campana in 1984. The Studio has achieved national and international recognition for its furniture design and intriguing pieces.

In 2019, the studio celebrated its 35th anniversary acknowledged as pioneers of disruptive design, which led them to create a ground-breaking language in their field. Strongly rooted in Brazilian culture and traditions, their work carries universal values in its core, such as freedom and human dignity, by searching self-identity through life experiences. By incorporating the idea of transformation and reinvention, their creative process raises everyday materials to nobility, bringing not only creativity into design, but also Brazilian characteristics – the colours, the mixtures, the creative chaos – the triumph of simple solutions, in an artistic and poetic way.

Based in São Paulo, studio Campana is constantly investigating new possibilities within design: from furniture making to architecture, landscaping, fashion, scenography and more. It creates bridges and dialogues where the exchange of information is also a source of inspiration. Working in partnership with different brands and industries, and liaising with communities and artists around the world, keeps Campana’s repertoire fresh. Project 66 was their first international show with Ingo Maurer, curated by Paola Antonelli, at MoMA New York, in 1998. The idea of the exhibition was to join two designers of very distinct backgrounds who shared the same poetics. With the Vermelha chair, also in 1998, they sealed their first partnership with Edra, in Italy.

Ever since, each year new products and concepts have been launched in collaboration with international brands such as Alessi, Artemide, Baccarat, Bernardaud, Bisazza, Edra, Fendi, Ghidini 1961, H. Stern, Lasvit, Lacoste, Louis Vuitton, Melissa, Venini, Vibram, among others. In 2002, Campana started crafting its own line of limited editions and unique pieces, handmade at the studio in São Paulo. 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 and Firma Casa in São Paulo. Interior design, architecture and landscaping have become an increasingly important part of the Estudio Campana portfolio. Café Campana at Musée d’Orsay (Paris), Café at the  São Paulo Opera House, New Hotel (Athens), the lobby, design store and auditorium at Stedelijk Museum Lobby (’s-Hertogenbosch), Iniala Beach House (Phuket), and Aesop store ( São Paulo); Sarah Chofakian Store ( São Paulo), Camper store by Campana: Berlin, Barcelona, London, Florence, Zaragoza, New York,  São Paulo; Scenography for the Summer Edition of  São Paulo Fashion Week (2013), are among a few of their interior and architecture commissions.

Highlights of their landscaping projects are the gardens of the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency and the Firma Casa Showroom and Gallery facade in São Paulo; and the Bamboo Cathedral at Hotel Fazenda Catucaba in São Luiz do Paraitinga. Among their urban sculptures and landmark projects we can mention the The John Madejski Garden installation at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London (2007), La Gloriette for Veuve Clicquot at Milan Furniture Fair (2010), the Brachina installation at Beijing Design Week (2012), the urban sculpture at the Habitarte building in São Paulo, and the Sleeping Piles installation at Fuorisalone (2019). 

In fashion, Campana signed a collection for Brazilian jewelers H. Stern (2001). For the last fifteen years they have collaborated with Melissa to create footwear and accessories. In 2009 and 2012 they reinterpreted the traditional LACOSTE polo shirt in exclusive editions. They also created the Maracatu travel cabinet, the Cocoon swinging chair, Bomboca sofa and Bulbo chair, for the Louis Vuitton’s Objets Nomades series since 2012, with new pieces introduced every year. 

Artistic partnerships include the creation of the costumes for Virtually There ballet hosted by Performa Visionaries at Mana Contemporary in New Jersey (2016), sets and costumes for the Marseille National Ballet Metamorphose show (2007) and the scenography of the Peter and the Wolf musical, presented at the Guggenheim Museum in New York (2008). Campana’s surprising perception of what is considered ‘ordinary’ and ‘trivial’ has been the basis of a few exhibitions. Humberto and Fernando were the curators of the Jardim de Infância (Kindergarten) exhibition at Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo (2009) and the Campana Brothers Select: works from permanent collection at the Cooper-Hewitt Museum in New York (2008). 

Campana pieces are part of permanent collections of renowned cultural institutions such as Centre Pompidou and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, MoMA, New York, Museum of Modern Art of São Paulo and Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein.

The Campana brothers are currently listed as one of the world’s top iconic architects at Interni (2018). In 2015 and 2014 Wallpaper ranked them, respectively, among the 100 most important and 200 greatest design professionals. In 2013, they were listed by Forbes magazine among the 100 most influential Brazilian personalities. In 2012, Fernando and Humberto Campana were selected for the Colbert Committee Award in Paris; honored by Design Week in Beijing; received the Order of Cultural Merit in Brasilia, and were awarded the Order of Arts and Letters by the French Ministry of Culture, and elected Designers of the Year by Maison & Objet de Paris. In 2008, they received the Design/Miami Designer of the Year award.