Gufram’s CACTUS®: a towering testament to Italian Radical Design. Originally envisioned by its designers Guido Drocco and Franco Mello as a whimsical take on a coat rack, this 1972 creation has since rooted itself as one of the most iconic pieces in the annals of Gufram's history. It stands as tall as a human, its unmistakable silhouette revolutionizing domestic landscapes and creative interiors globally.
Each CACTUS® is cleverly cast from flexible polyurethane with the same mold design used since its inception. It boasts four cantilever arms and 2165 nodes, and is meticulously finished and painted by hand in Gufram's signature Guflac® paint. This coating gives the CACTUS® its resilient yet flexible skin, able to withstand years of use without losing its charm.
CACTUS® has evolved over time, sprouting skins in a variety of colors with iterations such as the red ROSSOCACTUS®, black NEROCACTUS®, neon yellow and orange METACACTUS®, blue LEBLEUCACTUS®, and the ANOTHER GREEN and ANOTHER WHITE CACTUS®.
CACTUS® has played host to a variety of Gufram collaborations, with memorable editions like the GOD CACTUS®, by TOILETPAPER, Psychedelic CACTUS® by Paul Smith, RADIANT CACTUS® by ORDOVAS with Drocco and Mello, and ANDY’S CACTUS® with the Andy Warhol Foundation. In 2022, Gufram joined forces with influential musical artist A$AP Rocky, lending the CACTUS®’s presence an additional splash of color in the form of sprouting mushrooms at the base of the iconic piece, for the launch of his HOMMEMADE creative studio and interiors brand.
The CACTUS® has earned its place in design history, making appearances in prestigious institutions such as the Triennale in Milano, the National Art Museum of China in Beijing, and the Barbican in London. It's even part of the permanent collection at the Smithsonian Design Museum in New York.
Even after more than 50 years, CACTUS® continues to stand tall, its silhouette unforgettable, its character infinitely charming. It remains an integral facet of the story of design itself, echoing through the past, present, and future.