Patricia Urquiola: collected by MoMA, specified by architects

Mutina ceramic surfaces by Patricia Urquiola in a US corporate lobby

The MoMA keeps her work in its permanent collection. So do the V&A in London and the Vitra Design Museum. That is the fastest way to place Patricia Urquiola: design serious enough to collect, functional enough to specify. Born in Oviedo, trained under Achille Castiglioni in Milan, named Designer of the Year by Wallpaper* and Elle Decor International, and since 2015 the creative director of Cassina — she designs for Kartell, B&B Italia, Moroso, Flos and Haworth.

For a US project, the practical entry point is Mutina: the ceramic surfaces she art-directs, available through La Mercanti with sampling before the order — museum-grade authorship on the most trafficked surfaces an office owns.

FAQ

Why do architects and interior designers specify Patricia Urquiola's work for high-end commercial projects?

Because the pieces hold up under scrutiny — both aesthetic and technical. Urquiola doesn't design for the showroom moment; she designs for year three, when the furniture has been through a thousand meetings or a hotel's daily cycle. The work in Cassina's contract catalog, and the collections available through La Mercanti, are built to that standard. For A&D teams specifying hospitality, workplace, or mixed-use projects, that's the relevant distinction.