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PRESENTATION
HERE WE ARE! WOMEN IN DESIGN 1900 - TODAY
Organized by: Vitra Design Museum – Fundación Proa
Curated by: Viviane Stappmanns – Nina Steinmüller – Susanne Graner
Sponsored by: Tenaris – Ternium - Tecpetrol
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Fundación Proa celebrates the reopening of its renovated spaces with an extraordinary exhibition organized in collaboration with the Vitra Design Museum: “Here We Are! Women in Design 1900 – Today.” A journey through 120 years of creativity, innovation, and female talent in design.

For the first time in Argentina, the Vitra Design Museum’s collection is presented with a selection of iconic pieces—from furniture and lighting to textiles, utilitarian objects, and graphic works—created by women who have transformed this discipline. In parallel, Proa dedicates a special segment to Argentine designers who have shaped and continue to shape local trends.

The exhibition begins by documenting women’s early 20th-century struggle for their place in society, from sewing workshops to their entry into industry. With the Bauhaus and other pioneering schools, a new chapter unfolds, where figures like Eileen Gray, Charlotte Perriand, and Anni Albers shape the identity of authorial design. By mid-century, the expansion of the textile, ceramic, and homeware industries carried these creations across the globe. Today, design continues to evolve with innovative materials and a sustainable perspective.

The Argentine chapter follows this same historical thread, featuring key figures such as Celina A. de Pirovano, Lucrecia Moyano, Susy Aczel, Diana Cabezas, and Josefina Robirosa, and continues with new generations who are redefining design today. A unique opportunity to discover how design has shaped our daily lives—and how women have played a central role in that transformation.

On display are Eileen Gray’s wardrobe designed for her home on the French Riviera; Charlotte Perriand’s student bookshelf; Cini Boeri’s “Ghost Chair” and Lina Bo Bardi’s iconic stool; glassware by Aino Marsio-Aalto, tapestries by Anni Albers, and toys by Alma Siedhoff-Buscher, among many other pieces from the Vitra collection. The show is enriched with textile works by Josefina Robirosa, armchairs by Susy Aczel, glass pieces by Lucrecia Moyano, and ceramics by Colette Boccara, as well as lighting, graphic pieces, and garments by renowned contemporary designers.

“Here We Are! Women in Design 1900 – Today” is organized into four thematic sections that chronologically trace the evolution of women’s academic training and professional practice in various design fields, highlighting their contributions through original works from the Vitra Design Museum. In addition to international and national private collections, the exhibition includes Argentine design objects and pieces from Fundación IDA and prominent local collectors.

To delve into current developments, the exhibition also explores the impact of digital technology and automation, including carbon fiber, smart glass, and innovative processes such as 3D printing—broadening the possibilities for personalization and sustainability. From the first home appliances that freed up time to today’s smart tools that assist us throughout the day, design has always been a presence in our lives, offering solutions to specific daily challenges.

In the era of climate change and humanitarian crises, the curators—Viviane Stappmanns, Nina Steinmüller, and Susanne Graner—emphasize the urgent question: how can design practices help avoid or even prevent overconsumption, excessive resource use, and inequality?

This exhibition is made possible thanks to the continued support of our sponsors Tenaris and Ternium. We extend special thanks to Silvia Fernández, consultant for the Argentine design chapter; Fundación IDA, Satsch Gallery; and to the studios, designers, artists, and private collectors who generously contributed many of the exhibited pieces.

Proa has developed a program of activities to enjoy and learn:

• Seminars and lectures with experts
• Guided tours and the Artists + Critics series every Saturday
• A film series featuring premieres of documentaries and movies about women designers

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