Carla Tolomeo Racks and Stands
Carla Tolomeo creates whimsical and otherworldly pieces of art and furniture. With works that take on a range of natural-world forms such as palm trees, crescent moons and butterflies, Tolomeo’s lavish and imaginative seating creatively bridges sculpture and design.
Born in Pinerolo near Turin, Italy, in 1945, Tolomeo spent most of her childhood in Rome. She involved herself in art early in life, learning from leading Italian artists like Giorgio de Chirico, Renato Guttuso, Franco Gentilini and Ugo Attardi.
In 1971, Tolomeo had her first exhibition in Lugano, Switzerland. She went on to teach engraving at the Brera Academy and the Venetian Academy of Art. Through the 1990s, she focused solely on fine art, varying her disciplines between oil painting, engraving and other media.
In 1997, Tolomeo decided to challenge her artistic vision through the creation of pieces that she christened “Chairs-Sculptures.” She impressed critics and collectors alike with her boldly unconventional furniture. An early Tolomeo chair design garnered interest from the likes of Hermès and Neiman Marcus — she has since utilized textiles from Hermès in her works as well as fabrics created by Missoni.
Tolomeo sees her furniture as an extension of her art, with the three-dimensional structures juxtaposing the real and the unreal. Working with velvet, silk and foam rubber, she instills luxurious comfort into her curious sofas and other pieces such as beds. Their ostentatious ornamentation accents any space with a touch of magic.
Find Carla Tolomeo furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Carla Tolomeo Racks and Stands
Silk
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Carla Tolomeo Racks and Stands
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary German Modern Carla Tolomeo Racks and Stands
Steel
2010s Finnish Post-Modern Carla Tolomeo Racks and Stands
Cement, Aluminum
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Carla Tolomeo Racks and Stands
Plastic
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Carla Tolomeo Racks and Stands
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Carla Tolomeo Racks and Stands
Other
1970s French Hollywood Regency Vintage Carla Tolomeo Racks and Stands
Velvet
1930s American Art Nouveau Vintage Carla Tolomeo Racks and Stands
Wood
Early 1900s Art Deco Antique Carla Tolomeo Racks and Stands
Beech
20th Century German Bauhaus Carla Tolomeo Racks and Stands
Fiberglass
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Carla Tolomeo Racks and Stands
Linen, Beech
17th Century Italian Antique Carla Tolomeo Racks and Stands
Wood
Early 20th Century European Carla Tolomeo Racks and Stands
Chrome