Pierre Gonalons is a product and interior designer, creative director and scenographer. Born in Lyon, imbued with Italian culture, he defends a vision of design that combines an echo of the decorative arts or popular culture with a minimal design. He sees his time as an encounter between the past and the future. His work, deliberately inscribed between anonymity and spectacular, gives priority to the expression of the material used and to its implementation, whether modern or traditional.
Beyond the simple function, the object must contain a contemporary meaning and deliver a sincere message. In an excessively codified environment, he naturally chose not to overdesign his creations in order to give them a chance to live beyond fashions.
The spontaneity of the consumer's approach is an essential element for him, just like the first role that the user must keep in his daily fiction.
A graduate of the Camondo school in 2002, Pierre Gonalons founded Ascète whose creations he signs, publishes a collection of furniture, lighting, objects and watches and builds step by step, chapter by chapter, a global and confidential universe. At the same time, Pierre Gonalons works with brands in product design emphasizing the enhancement of materials and craftsmanship, in space, event and window planning or in creative strategy. Since 2004, his clients include: Chivas Regal, Chloé, Kiehl's, Knoll, Lalique, Ligia Dias Colliers, L'Oréal Luxe, Mellerio dits Meller, Nina Ricci Parfums, Pernod, Tassinari & Chatel... In 2011-2012 he is responsible for the artistic direction of the decoration brand SIA Home Fashion.
On the other hand, he was elected "Best breakthrough designer" at the Wallpaper Design Awards 2007 and his scenography for the Designer's Days 2008 for Knoll France was awarded by AD magazine.
After his first monographic exhibition PAVILLONS, inspired by the architecture of domes and cupolas, at the Galerie Armel Soyer in 2012, he presented it as a Solo Show at Design Miami/Basel and then at the Kortrijk Biennale. The Pavillons table will join the Bon Marché design collection.
He returns in 2015 with a new production and exhibition of marble furniture inspired by the ornamental vocabulary of classicism: PALAIS, collection published by the Armel Soyer Gallery.
In May 2016, he exhibited a solo show at the ICON Hotel in Hong Kong on the occasion of French May.