Henri Bertoia

Henri Bertoia (1915–1978), born in San Lorenzo, Italy and later based in the United States, was a visionary sculptor, furniture designer and sound artist. After studying at Cranbrook Academy of Art alongside Charles and Ray Eames, he designed the iconic Diamond Chair for Knoll. In the late 1950s he shifted focus to sound, accidentally discovering the resonant tones produced by striking metal rods. This led to his celebrated "Sonambient" sculptures — tall vertical rods and gongs of varying sizes that generate ethereal, harmonic sounds when activated by wind, touch or performance.