Vladimir Kagan pioneered the enduring voice of midcentury modern design. A designer of not simply furniture but what he called “vessels to hold the human body,” “Kagan represents the ultimate in modern American furniture design,” Holly Hunt said.  

Kagan’s independent designs earned him decades of accolades and the avant-garde aesthetic. Kagan sought to develop furniture that could enhance human interactions, leading to innovations such as the first curved sofa, which he designed to enhance conversation and social experience.