Established in 2002, ESPASSO is committed to conserving Brazil's rich 20th century design heritage and expanding its global reach, while promoting new creative generations and today's leading designers.
Present in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and London, the gallery represents mid-century modern and contemporary Brazilian designers, and has consolidated itself as a thriving outpost for architects, interior designers, artists, collectors and museum curators, to engage in education and exchange.
The brand has acquired global recognition for its curatorial vision and impeccable services, representing works of the finest execution and enduring cultural relevance.
In honor of São Paulo's 472th anniversary today, we’ve selected a few exhibitions of Brazilian artists' work on view in the culturally-rich city to see in the last days of January. 1. Histories of Ecology @masp 2. Nascimento by Antonio Obá @mendeswooddm 3. Pinacoteca: Collection @pinacotecasp 4. Early by Juliana dos Santos @pinacotecasp Photo credits: Manuel Sá, www.masp.org.br , mendeswooddm.com , Levi Fanan #saopaulo #museum #gallery #exhibition #anniversary #brazilianart #brazilianartists #espasso #design #architecture #inspiration #designer #braziliandesign
Self-taught and guided by curiosity, Etel Carmona began her journey in the 1980s by restoring antique furniture at her rural home in São Paulo. As she stripped away layers of paint and varnish, she uncovered extraordinary native woods and masterful craftsmanship, sparking a lasting devotion. From that moment on, she came to see Brazilian woods as precious materials—treasures that must be respected, protected, and celebrated. Her work draws on time-honored joinery methods, deliberately left exposed to reveal the elegance of finger joints and dovetails. For Etel, meticulous construction and endurance evoke memory and continuity, grounding contemporary design in the deep roots of Brazilian furniture-making. In 1985, she founded ETEL, a company dedicated to producing furniture by leading designers and artists, and uniquely committed to reissuing Brazilian modernist pieces, safeguarding an essential design heritage. #etelcarmona #etel #espasso #interiordesign #design #homedecor #interiordecor #style #architecture #interiordesigner #furniture #inspiration #designer #braziliandesign #modernfurniture #contemporarydesign #collectibledesign #minimalist #midcenturyfurniture #archdaily #architecturelovers #midcenturystyle #midcenturydesign #modern #architectural #architecturedaily #architecturelover
In honor of São Paulo’s 472nd anniversary this Sunday, we’re celebrating the city’s modernist legacy by highlighting five design landmarks that continue to shape its cultural and architectural identity: spaces where architecture, culture, and daily life intersect. Rooted in a strong collective vision, these projects embrace the integration of nature, architecture, art, and urbanism, offering places of refuge, creativity, and community. Together, they present a vision of megacities that blend Brazilian tropical soul with modernism, while remaining deeply grounded in social connection. Photo credits: Nelson Kon, domus, CASACOR, Plano & Plano #saopaulo #linabobardi #oscarniemeyer #robertoburlemarx #anniversary #designgems #espasso #interiordesign #design #homedecor #interiordecor #style #architecture #interiordesigner #furniture #inspiration #designer #braziliandesign #collectibledesign #minimalist #midcenturyfurniture #archdaily #architecturelovers #midcenturystyle #midcenturydesign #modern #architectural #architecturedaily #architecturelover
Corners of Espasso founder Carlos Junqueira's mid-century pied-à-terre in the center of São Paulo, Brazil, as featured in @casavoguebrasil and photographed by @ruy_teixeira . An entrepreneurial visionary, Junqueira brought Brazilian design to the international spotlight decades ago. Back in his home country during the warmer months, priceless objects collected over years bring life to his downtown apartment, revealing an unpretentious renovation within an iconic building. 1. Iron Unilabor dining chairs by Geraldo de Barros, Guanabara dining table by Jorge Zalszupin, vase by @domingostotora , Raízes photograph by @eliseucavalcante . 2. Steel bench with futons, A15 vase by @ian_diesendruck , Filhote sculpture by @paulajuchem_ , painting by @rafaelartespereira , tapestry by @higojosee . 3. Side table by Martin Eisler, Jataí bench by Carlos and Diego Motta of @attomdesign , Imprudente paiting by @___jamex___ . 4. Dining chairs by Joaquim Tenreiro, dining table inherited from Junqueira's family, vase by @denise.stewart_ , photograph by @leonardofinotti . 5. Jataí Coat Hanger by @attomdesign , Mole Lounge Armchair by Sergio Rodrigues, side table by Giuseppe Scapinelli, a ceramic vase by @rosalva.arte , bedding from Arthur Casas’ collection for Trousseau and blanket by @oiamodesignart . 6. Carlos Junqueira in his Volkswagen Brasilia 1978, in front of the Louvre building, designed by architect João Artacho Jurado. #citycenter #art #saopaulo #joaoartachojurado #espasso #interiordesign #design #homedecor #interiordecor #style #architecture #interiordesigner #furniture #inspiration #luxurylifestyle #designer #braziliandesign #modernfurniture #midcenturymodern #contemporarydesign #collectibledesign #minimalist #archdaily #architecturelovers #modern #architectural #architecturedaily #architecturelover
Originally designed for the interior of the Arcos Palace, or Itamarty Palace, the 'Arcos' was also included in Sergio Rodrigues’ collection for the Brazilian Embassy in Rome, Pamphilj Palace. Maintaining it's original essence, it functions as both an armchair or office chair. The ergonomic beach and seat are elegantly supported by a wooden frame with upholstered arms and optional chrome caster wheels. The Arcos re-edition celebrates the role of Brazilian design in diplomacy and institutions during the modern era. Don't miss the exhibition "Sergio Rodrigues, una esperienza italiana," currently on view at the in Pamphilj Palace in Rome through January 19th! Arcos Armchair by Sergio Rodrigues, 1960 Photos via @sergiorodriguesatelier @institutosergiorodrigues @bla_studio & Diego Bressani #sergiorodrigues #arcos #armchair #rome #brasilia #espasso #interiordesign #design #homedecor #interiordecor #style #architecture #interiordesigner #furniture #inspiration #designer #braziliandesign #modernfurniture #contemporarydesign #collectibledesign #minimalist #midcenturyfurniture #archdaily #architecturelovers #midcenturystyle #midcenturydesign #modern #architectural #architecturedaily #architecturelover
The scene of the Brazilian Embassy in Rome, Pamphilj Palace, currently hosting "Sergio Rodrigues, una esperienza italiana," on view through January 19th. With a growing recognition following a report published by Domus magazine in 1959, Sergio Rodrigues was asked to take on the interior design of the palace. The exhibition celebrates his works by featuring emblematic furniture designs, re-editions, and documents that narrate how, since the 1960s, from the restoration of the Palazzo Pamphilj to the design of the Palácio dos Arcos in Brasília, Rodrigues' modern design has become a symbol of innovation, elegance, and Brazilian identity on the international cultural scene. Featured: — Vitrine Coffee Table — Itamaraty Desk — Navona Armchair — Roma Coffee Table 📸 @sergiorodriguesatelier @institutosergiorodrigues & @bla_studio #sergiorodrigues #coffeetable #desk #armchair #rome #embassy #exhibition #espasso #interiordesign #design #homedecor #interiordecor #style #architecture #interiordesigner #furniture #inspiration #designer #braziliandesign #collectibledesign #minimalist #midcenturyfurniture #archdaily #architecturelovers #midcenturystyle #midcenturydesign #modern #architectural #architecturedaily #architecturelover
A reference to Mies Van der Rohe's Barcelona Couch, Claudia Moreira Salles' rectangular bench surface has circular indentations which define each seating place and provide additional comfort, with a horizontal cylinder across the middle. Pictured is the production of the Dominó Bench at Grifel Carpentry Shop in São Paulo. Dominó Bench by @claudiamoreirasalles , 2014 Photo by: @ruy_teixeira #claudiamoreirasalles #domino #bench #wood #concrete #espasso #interiordesign #design #homedecor #interiordecor #style #architecture #interiordesigner #furniture #inspiration #luxurylifestyle #designer #braziliandesign #modernfurniture #contemporarydesign #collectibledesign #minimalist #archdaily #architecturelovers #modern #architectural #architecturedaily #architecturelover
The Cantu Low Dining Chair by Sergio Rodrigues, one of the earliest works by the Brazilian master, was awarded at the IV Furniture Bienal in Italy in 1961 and formed part of the original interior project for Brasília, Brazil’s modernist capital. Sculptural and timeless, the chair is paired here with the Amorfa Dining Table by @ArthurCasasDesign, whose name suggests the absence of a fixed form. Reimagining the traditional round table through an organic, triangular geometry, it naturally encourages conversation and connection. The pieces are featured in Art Collector's Loft, a Manhattan apartment designed by @JessicaGerstenDesign. Based in New York City, the studio specializes in interior architecture and design; their spaces balance the earthy and the contemporary through a multi-sensorial approach, using materiality, texture, and sculptural form to create cohesive environments shaped around how people live. Featured in @GalerieMagazine Photos by @Nicole_Franzen #manhattan #diningroom #apartment #espasso #interiordesign #design #homedecor #interiordecor #style #architecture #interiordesigner #furniture #inspiration #luxurylifestyle #designer #braziliandesign #modernfurniture #contemporarydesign #collectibledesign #minimalist #midcenturyfurniture #archdaily #architecturelovers #midcenturystyle #midcenturydesign #modern #architectural #architecturedaily #architecturelover
