Charles & Ray Eames

Charles Eames, born in 1907 in St. Louis, Missouri, pursued architecture studies at Washington University and worked on residential and ecclesiastical projects. His journey intersected with Elle Saarinen, who recognized his potential and awarded him a scholarship to the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan in 1938. A turning point arrived in 1940 when Charles and Eero Saarinen clinched the top prize in the Industrial Design Competition.

Ray Eames, born in Sacramento, California in 1912, embarked on a painting journey at Bennett College in Millbrook, New York. Subsequently, she honed her skills at the Hans Hofmann School of Fine Arts, engaging in painting courses in 1937. Her talent found early expression at the Riverside Museum in New York in the same year.

The union of Charles and Ray Eames in 1941 marked the commencement of their partnership, and together, they settled in Los Angeles. Their collaborative efforts ventured into three-dimensional adaptations of plywood, guided by the vision of creating affordable and comfortable design.

The duo's significance was underscored in 1948 when they participated in MoMA's "Low-Cost Furniture" competition. Following this, the year 1949 witnessed the realization of their iconic "Eames House."
Vitra entered the narrative in 1957, initiating the licensed production of Charles and Ray Eames' designs for Europe and the Middle East in collaboration with Herman Miller. This pivotal meeting marked a cornerstone moment for Vitra, heralding its transformation into a distinguished furniture manufacturer.

Charles and Ray Eames' furniture rapidly became the nucleus of the Vitra Design Museum's collection. In 1997, the museum unveiled "The World of Charles and Ray Eames." A further testament to their enduring legacy arrived in 2017 when Vitra presented an extensive retrospective titled "An Eames Celebration," commemorating their collective lifework.

Source: https://www.vitra.com/de-at/about-vitra/designer/details/charles-ray-eames
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