Ralph Pucci
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Ralph Pucci | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1954 (age 71–72) |
| Occupations | Designer, gallery owner and entrepreneur |
| Known for | Designing mannequins |
Ralph Pucci (born 1954) is an American mannequin designer, gallery owner and entrepreneur.[1][2]
The family business began with Nick and Lee Pucci in 1954 repairing mannequins in their Mount Vernon, NY basement. Ralph Pucci joined the company in 1976 at the age of 22 and began to fabricate unique mannequins, which went onto great acclaim.[3][2]
One of Pucci's innovations in the field of mannequin design was to collaborate with other artists and designers, such as Kenny Scharf, Ruben Toledo, Andrée Putman and Maira Kalman.[4] He also created mannequins based on legends like Christy Turlington and Veruschka. In 2004, Pucci released a line of larger-sized female mannequins.[5]
After he collaborated with the French designer Andrée Putman, Pucci began to sell some of her furniture designs as well, and began to represent top European furniture designers.[6] His furniture business eventually eclipsed his mannequin business in volume.[6][7] Due to the waning retail world during the COVID pandemic, RALPH PUCCI International was able to maintain its sculpting and manufacturing capabilities in the heart of Manhattan by pivoting the skills of the factory to produce in-house furniture and lighting designs in a material called Plasterglass.
In March 2015, a retrospective of Pucci's mannequins were shown in an exhibit at the Museum of Arts and Design.[8][9][4][10]