JORGE ZALSZUPIN

Jorge Zalszupin (1922-2020) was born in Poland and studied architecture at Bucharest’s Ecole des Beaux Arts. While working as an architect in Paris, he found inspiration in articles about Brazilians Oscar Niemeyer and Roberto Burle Marx and decided to change the tornado of the European war for Brazil in 1949, in the midst of the tumultuous Rio Carnival. Hardly speaking the language and without almost a single dime in his pocket, Zalszupin then decided to write to Luciano Korngold, a renowned architect in São Paulo who was also originally from Poland. A couple of weeks later Korngold visited Rio de Janeiro for a conference, and was impressed by his drawings. Korngold hired Zalszupin on the spot. Filled with ambition, he opened up his own business in 1951, proceeding his work as an architect. Zalszupin also started working in decoration and design in the years that followed, although mostly because of his clients’ wishes.

In 1959, Zalszupin started the furniture firm L’Atelier. Emphasizing a high level of craftsmanship, L’Atelier saw near-immediate success and eventually had two factories producing his designs. The first model Zalszupin designed was the now famous ‘Poltrona Dinamarquesa’ (the Danish chair). Zalszupin was heavily inspired by Danish design and while he was known for his refined work in jacaranda and other Brazilian woods, he also expanded his repertoire to include plastics. L’Atelier thrived in Brazil, having ten shops at the height of Zalszupin’s career. His furniture also won numerous commissions, including in Brasilia. Jorge Zalszupin is considered one of Brazil’s most important designers of the twentieth century.