120 YEARS OF WOMEN REVOLUTIONIZING DESIGN
Proa Foundation celebrates the reopening of its renovated spaces with an exhibition organized in collaboration with the Vitra Design Museum: Here We Are! Women in Design 1900–Today, a journey through 120 years of female creativity, innovation, and talent in design.
For the first time in Argentina, the Vitra Design Museum’s collection is presented with a selection of iconic pieces—ranging from furniture and lighting to textiles, everyday objects, and graphic works—created by women who transformed the discipline. In parallel, Proa dedicates a special section to Argentine designers who have shaped and continue to influence local trends.
The exhibition begins by documenting women’s struggle for a place in society in the early 20th century, from sewing workshops to industrial workspaces. With the emergence of the Bauhaus and other pioneering schools, a new chapter unfolds in which figures like Eileen Gray, Charlotte Perriand, and Anni Albers shape the concept of auteur design. By mid-century, the expansion of the textile, ceramics, and household goods industries brings these creations to a global audience. Today, design continues to evolve with innovative materials and a sustainable approach.
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Charlotte Perriand on the Chaise longue basculante, 1929, Perriand and Jeanneret © VG Bild-Kunst. Bonn 2021, Le Corbusier, F.L.C., VG Bild-Kunst, Bonn. Courtesy of Fundación Proa
The Argentine chapter follows this same historical thread, featuring key figures such as Celina A. de Pirovano, Lucrecia Moyano, Susy Aczel, Diana Cabeza, and Josefina Robirosa, up to the new generations redefining design today. It’s a unique opportunity to discover how design has shaped everyday life and how women have played a crucial role in that transformation.
On display are Eileen Gray’s wardrobe designed for her home on the French Riviera; Charlotte Perriand’s student library; Cini Boeri’s Ghost Chair and Lina Bo Bardi’s iconic stool; Aino Marsio-Aalto’s glassware, Anni Albers’s tapestries, and Alma Siedhoff-Buscher’s toys, among many other pieces from the Vitra collection. These are joined by Josefina Robirosa’s textile works, Susy Aczel’s armchairs, Lucrecia Moyano’s crystalware, and Colette Boccara’s ceramics, along with lamps, graphic works, and garments by renowned contemporary women designers.
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Eileen Gray. Untitled. Dressing Cabinet for the Tempe a Pailla House, 1932-34. Vitra Design Museum. Ph: Jürgen Hans. Courtesy of Fundación Proa
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Cini Boeri. Tomu Katayanagi Ghost, 1987. Vitra Design Museum. Ph: Jürgen Han. Courtesy of Fundación Proa
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Alma Siedhoff-Buscher. Bauhaus Bauspiel, 1923 (2015) © Naef Spiele, Schweiz. Ph: Heiko Hillig. Courtsy of Fundación Proa
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Susi Aczel. Mesa Ronda, 1954. Courtesy of Fundación Proa
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Colette Boccara. Colbo. Conjunto Piezas Unicas 14 Fb. Couresy of the Fundación Proa
In addition to international and national private collections, the exhibition includes Argentine design pieces from Fundación IDA and prominent local collectors.
Looking at the present day—with the advent of digital technology and automation—materials like carbon fiber and smart glass, along with innovative processes like 3D printing, have expanded the possibilities for personalization and sustainability. From the first home appliances that freed up domestic time to today’s smart tools that accompany us throughout the day, design has consistently responded to everyday needs and challenges.
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Greta von Nessen. Anywhere Desk Lamp, 1952. Vitra Design Museum. Ph: Andreas Jung. Courtsy of Fundación Proa
In the face of climate change and humanitarian crises, the question becomes how design can help reduce—or even prevent—overconsumption, excessive use of resources, and inequality, emphasize the exhibition’s curators, Viviane Stappmanns, Nina Steinmüller, and Susanne Graner.
Here We Are! Women in Design 1900–Today will be on view through June 29, 2025, at Fundación Proa, Av. Pedro de Mendoza 1929, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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