Vladimir Kagan

Vladimir Kagan was born in Germany in 1927 and, as a result of the rise of the Nazis, emigrated to the US with his family in 1938. Kagan showed an early interest in painting and sculpture but later turned to architecture and design. He studied architecture at Columbia University and then went to work with his father - a master cabinetmaker.

Vladimir opened his first shop on East 65th Street  in New York in 1948 and later moved to the very fashionable address of 57th Street in 1950. His reputation soared and he gained prestigious clients from the worlds of film, art, theatre and music. Amongst them were Marilyn Monroe, Gary Cooper and Frank Sinatra. Many large companies were also clients including General Electric, Disney and General Motors.

Vladimir remained a dynamic figure right up until his death in April 2016. He lectured at prominent universities and, most importantly, continued to design. He also wrote a highly entertaining blog where he shared his personal snaps and opinions on subjects as diverse as art, travel and the obtuseness of the Swiss (all relayed with an incredibly wry sense of humour)!

Today, Vladimir Kagan designs remain very highly sought after and continue to attract the attention of private collectors and museums. There are Kagan pieces at the V&A in London, the Vitra Design Museum as well as in the personal collections of numerous high flyers from the entertainment world.