Isamu Noguchi - Freeform Sofa - 1946

Isamu Noguchi

Born November 17 , 1904 - December 30 , 1988 ) was a prominent Japanese - American artist and landscape architect

His artistic career spanned six decades, from the 1920s onward. Known widely for his sculpture and public works, Noguchi also designed stage sets for various Martha Graham productions, and several mass-produced lamps and furniture pieces, some of which are still manufactured and sold. Among his furniture work was his collaboration with the Herman Miller company in 1948 when he joined with George Nelson , Paul László and Charles Eames to produce a catalog containing what is often considered to be the most influential body of modern furniture. His work lives on around the world and at the Isamu Noguchi Garden Museum in New York City .

His final project was the design of a 400 acre (1.6 km²) park for Sapporo , Japan . Designed in 1988 shortly before his death, Moerenuma Park is almost completed and already open to the public as of 2004.