Benno Premsela (1920 – 1997) was a Dutch textile and exhibition designer. Dutch designer and gay rights pioneer Benno Premsela hid from the Nazis and emerged with the conviction that he would never again hide who he was.
Education
He was born in a Jewish, socialist family. His Father, Bernhard, was the first sexologist to talk about sexuality and birth control on the radio openly.
Premsela’s childhood was happy, and by 1937, he was studying interior design at the Nieuwe Kunstschool in Amsterdam. It was founded in 1933 and modelled on the Bauhaus.
Biography
Between 1949 and 51, he worked in the furniture department of Bijenkorf, the largest department store in Amsterdam. Between 1956 and 1963, he served as the head of displays there.
1951-53, he worked in Italy, where he designed and printed textiles. In 1963, he established a studio in partnership with the architect Jan Vonk. Since 1967, Premsela has been responsible for product development and design for Van Besouw in Goirle. From 1972, wallcoverings for Vescom, and from 1975, upholstery fabrics for Gerns & Gabler.
Exhibitions
His work was the subject of the one-person 1981-2 ‘Benno Premsela onder anderen’ exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.
Key Takeaways
- Benno Premsela was a Dutch textile and exhibition designer known for his contributions to gay rights.
- He studied interior design at the Nieuwe Kunstschool in Amsterdam and came from a Jewish, socialist family.
- Premsela worked in the furniture department of Bijenkorf and later established his own studio with architect Jan Vonk.
- His notable exhibition was ‘Benno Premsela onder anderen’ at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.
- He designed textiles in Italy and contributed to product development for various companies throughout his career.
Sources
Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing.
Kohn. (n.d.). Just a Flash in the Universe. The Guardian 08 Apr 1997, Page 20 – Newspapers.com. Retrieved December 28, 2022,
Shorto, R. (2013, October 29). Amsterdam. In A History of the World’s Most Liberal City.
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