Vladimir Kagan’s Midcentury Modern Legacy

American furniture designer Vladimir Kagan passed away earlier this month at the age of 88 in Palm Beach, leaving behind a strong legacy as one of the 20th century’s most successful designers.  His renowned work earned him an induction into the Designer Hall of Fame in 2009, over sixty years after he began designing and producing Midcentury modern design furniture.

Born on August 29, 1927 in the city of Worms, Germany to a Russian cabinetmaker, Vladimir Kagan emigrated at a young age to the United States where he began focusing his attention on sculpture and painting before moving on to architecture and design.  He would eventually graduate from New York City’s High School of Art Design with a degree in architecture in 1946, then known as the School of Industrial Art.

After continuing his architecture studies at Columbia University Kagan began working alongside his father in his woodworking shop where he learned how to make furniture, honing his skills.  He would use these skills to open his own New York-based shop where he would go on to work with a number of noteworthy clients including the United States, Disney, General Motors, and celebrities like Marilyn Monroe.

One of Kagan’s best known works is the armless and curved serpentine sofa and it’s one of the many works that earned him awards and accolades including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Pinnacle Award from the American Society of Furniture Designers, and more.

This update is provided by CA Modern Home, offering an extensive selection of modern home furniture by respected brands and designers like those under the Herman Miller brand, including Charles & Ray Eames.  Call us at 1-800-605-1859 for any sales inquiries or more information on furniture by Eames, George Nelson, and the many other iconic designers.