Felipe Pantone redesigns Poltrona Frau's Archibald chair for 110th anniversary

Argentine artist Felipe Pantone (b. 1986, Buenos Aires) has created Archibald Anniversary Limited Edition, a radical reinterpretation of Poltrona Frau's iconic armchair originally designed by Jean-Marie Massaud in 2009. Produced in 110 pieces to mark the company's 110th anniversary, the chair features a hypnotic grid of reds, oranges, yellows, whites, and blues, drawing from digital imagery and street art. The piece is on display until June 12 at the brand's flagship store on Via Manzoni in Milan. Pantone's intervention uses chrome-free leather, reducing water, chemicals, and pollutants in production. In an interview, Pantone described visiting the factory and museum, praising the craftsmanship and the 'interiors in motion' automotive section. He cited 1960s Kinetic Art and Optical Art as influences, as well as meeting Carlos Cruz-Diez, his favorite artist. Pantone's palette is based on light refraction through a prism, producing warm and cold colors emblematic of the digital age. After the Salone del Mobile, Pantone plans solo exhibitions in New York and Tokyo.