Gino Sarfatti

Gino Sarfatti was a pioneering Italian lighting designer and founder of the influential lighting company Arteluce. Born in 1912, Sarfatti initially studied aeronautical engineering before shifting his focus to lighting, where he applied a uniquely technical and experimental approach to design. Over his prolific career, he created more than 600 lighting fixtures, many of which became icons of mid-century modernism. Sarfatti was known for his innovative use of new materials and technologies—such as aluminum, plexiglass, and halogen bulbs—long before they became industry standards. His designs balanced function, elegance, and simplicity, and they often challenged traditional forms of lighting. Through Arteluce, which became a key platform for modern Italian design until it was acquired by Flos in 1973, Sarfatti not only advanced the field of lighting but also collaborated with some of the era's most visionary architects and designers. His legacy endures in both vintage pieces and modern reissues that continue to illuminate spaces with timeless brilliance.