Considered one of the most influential furniture and interior designers of the 20th century, Verner Panton (1926–1998) is celebrated for his bold sense of colour and for pushing the limits of materials and form.

Born in Gamtofte, Denmark, Panton studied at the Odense Technical College before enrolling at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen to study architecture. Inspired by pop art, Panton created geometric furniture designs in vibrant colours using plastics and other new materials.

Attracting wide attention for his innovative designs, in the early 1960s Panton collaborated with Vitra to produce what is perhaps his most celebrated work, the Panton Chair. The first cantilever chair to be produced out of a single piece of plastic, the Panton Chair is among his notable furniture designs still issued by Vitra today.

Awarded several prestigious design awards during his lifetime, Panton’s work is represented in the collections of numerous leading museums and galleries. In 2000, a retrospective of his work was mounted by the Vitra Design Museum in Germany.