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Rolf Sachs
Rolf Sachs
Rolf Sachs
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Rolf Wilhelm Albert Sachs colloquially Rolf Sachs (born 10 August 1955) is a Swiss artist, designer, art collector and philanthropist. He is the oldest son of Gunter Sachs and a member of the Opel family.

Key Information

Early life and education

[edit]

Sachs was born 10 August 1955 in Lausanne, Switzerland, the oldest of three children, of Gunter Sachs, an industrial heir and socialite, and his first wife Anne-Marie Sachs (née Faure; 1934–1958). His mother was originally from France and died from anesthesia error during an operation.[1] He had two younger half-brothers; Christian Gunnar Sachs and "Claus" Alexander Sachs (born 1982).

His paternal family was affluent and associated with a variety of industries. His grandfather was Willy Sachs, an industrialist and majority owner of Fichtel & Sachs, an automotive parts manufacturer. His great-grandfather was Wilhelm von Opel, an engineer and co-founder of the Opel company, as well as son of Adam Opel.

He was educated at Institut Le Rosey and the Lyceum Alpinum Zuoz. From 1975 he started to study economics in London and San Francisco. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Menlo College in Menlo Park, California.

Career

[edit]

He started his formal career in investment banking before fully committing to the art world. Since 1984 he is also active as furniture designer and since 2006 also as a set designer (theater and movies). He moved to London in 1994 and founded his design studio rolf sachs fun'ction there. According to his own statements, he was heavily influenced by Suprematism, Dadaism, Surrealism, the Nouveau Réalisme group of artists and the artist Joseph Beuys. His penchant for chairs follows on from an extensive collection of chairs begun in the late 1980s. A large special exhibition with design objects that deal with German virtues took place in 2014 in the Museum for Applied Arts in Cologne.

Additionally after his studies he briefly worked for his family's company as specialist and investor for 'alternative investments'. He is still active in the world of finance and investments through his single family office galaxar ag which has offices in Chur and Zug. Also he holds several advisory and board member positions on a national and international level.

Art and design

[edit]

Rolf Sachs's work moves between art and design, objects, spaces and visual medium. It encourages his audience to question preconceptions and view objects from a different perspective, through an inquisitive and conceptual approach.

Sachs’ work was initially inspired by the principles of minimalism. Restrained decoration, deconstructed right angles and sharp corners were the defining characteristics of his work, predominantly made from felt and solid wood.

His work has changed over the years, becoming more experimental and conceptual and therefore not as definable. He searches for the unconventional and the unexpected, a philosophy reflected in his artistic style.

Rolf Sachs has exhibited at numerous art and design galleries including the MAKK Museum in Cologne, Galerie von Bartha in St Moritz, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, ammann// gallery at Design Miami Basel, Phillips de Pury & Company New York, Monica Sprüth Cologne and Faggionato Fine Arts in London. His set designs the Faust opera, which debuted at Wiesbaden Staatstheater and the Faust ballet at the Les Ballets de Monte Carlo, which toured globally. In March 2009, Sachs completed the set design for Vincenzo Bellini's “Norma” at the Opera de Monte Carlo.

Rolf collaborated with his stepmother Maryam Sachs on developing the concept for the photographic project entitled The Wild Emperor where over a period of a year, a stationary camera captured the Wild Kaiser mountain range outside his house in Bavaria, in 10.5 minute intervals.

At the end of September 2016, Sachs published a yearlong photographic exploration on the UNESCO World Heritage Rhaetian Albula / Bernina Railway line, entitled Camera in Motion: From Chur to Tirano. In this recent project Sachs's photographs were taken from a moving train. These images uncover Sachs's experimental approach to photography and challenge the viewer to step towards an unknown reality. The book features 87 photographs and includes texts by Bill Kouwenhoven and Helen Chislett, and is published by Kehrer Verlag.

In October 2016, Sachs designed the Leica M-P (Typ 240) special edition 'grip' by Rolf Sachs, in collaboration with Leica Camera AG. The new, limited edition, model unites the iconic rangefinder technology with artistic product design with a combination of unusual materials and the artist's signature bright red colour palette.

Personal life

[edit]

In 1985, Sachs married Iranian-born Maryam Banihashem (born 1961), an author and publisher, originally from Tehran. They had three children together;

  • Philipp Sachs (born 1986)[2]
  • Frederik Sachs (born 1988)[3]
  • Roya Sachs (born 1991)[4][5]

In 1994, Sachs moved his family to London, where they lived until 2018. In 2014, Sachs separated from his wife, with a divorce being finalized the same year. He has ever since been in a relationship with Princess Mafalda of Hesse (born 1965), sister of the Head of the House of Hesse, Heinrich Donatus of Hesse, who is husband to Floria Countess of Faber-Castell. Sachs currently resides with her in Rome, Italy, and St. Moritz, Switzerland.[6][7][8]

References

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Rolf Sachs

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Rolf Sachs (born August 10, 1955) is a Swiss multidisciplinary , , and philanthropist renowned for his innovative works that blur the boundaries between and , often incorporating humor, sensory engagement, and conceptual depth across media such as , , installation, and furniture. Born in , , to German-Swiss industrialist and playboy and French mother Anne-Marie Faure, who died when he was two, Sachs was raised in amid a culturally rich environment that exposed him early to and . Sachs studied in the United States and the during the late 1980s before relocating to in 1994 to establish his studio, Rolf Sachs Funktion, where he began producing one-off designs and objects inspired by modernist movements including , , (notably ), and artists like and . In 2018, he moved to , opening a new studio in 2020 to further explore themes of human interaction, emotion, and material innovation. His practice challenges conventional applications of materials and processes, encouraging viewers to engage playfully and sensorially, as seen in key series like Camera in Motion (2012–2013), which reimagines photographic equipment as sculptural forms, and Gargantua Chair (2007), a monumental seating piece evoking surrealist excess. Sachs's works have been exhibited internationally at prestigious institutions, including the in , the Museum für Angewandte Kunst in , and the in , with his art held in both public and private collections. Notable commissions include interior designs for the Leica Hotel in (2018) and a bench collection for (2024), alongside set designs for the Ballet and operas. In 2025, a major retrospective titled Rolf Sachs: Be-rühren opened at Kunsthalle , accompanied by a 300-page published by DISTANZ Verlag, underscoring his enduring influence on and design.

Early life and education

Family background

Rolf Sachs was born on August 10, 1955, in , , to , a prominent German industrialist and heir to the automotive fortune, renowned for his playboy lifestyle and deep engagement with and art collection, and Anne-Marie Faure, a French woman from who died in 1958 from complications during surgery following a car accident when Rolf was two years old. The Sachs family embodied substantial wealth derived from the legacy, with Gunter inheriting a significant portion of his father Willy Sachs's estate in 1958, which afforded a life of luxury and broad cultural access across . From an early age, Rolf was immersed in an environment rich with , as his father's passions for collecting and aesthetic pursuits filled their household with influential works and inspirations, fostering a foundational appreciation for amid frequent travels and exposure to Europe's vibrant artistic scenes in places like and beyond. As the eldest son and only child from Gunter's first marriage, Rolf navigated family dynamics marked by his father's high-profile subsequent relationships, including marriages to icons like and Mirja Larsson, which introduced half-siblings Christian and Alexander into the fold and contributed to an international, nomadic upbringing that later influenced his educational path.

Formal education

Rolf Sachs attended two prestigious Swiss boarding schools during his formative years: in and , followed by near . These institutions provided him with an international environment, exposing him to diverse cultures and instilling a sense of discipline that shaped his early development. In the late 1980s, Sachs pursued higher education in the and the . He graduated in mathematics from the London School of Economics and studied investment theory at in , where he earned a in Business Administration. His family's industrial background facilitated access to these global educational opportunities. Following his formal education, Sachs transitioned from business-oriented studies to self-directed exploration in and design, reflecting a passion for creative pursuits that had roots in his school days.

Professional career

Early business roles

Following his studies, Rolf Sachs entered the field of in the early 1980s. His educational background in and equipped him for roles across financial sectors in and the , where he applied analytical skills to operations. Sachs gained key experience in while also becoming involved in the management of his family's enterprises, which trace their roots to the automotive and industrial heritage of Fichtel & Sachs AG, founded in 1895 by his great-grandfather as a manufacturer of clutches and components. Through the , Galaxar AG—established to oversee investments and business interests—he contributed to a diverse portfolio that included industrial holdings, leveraging his financial expertise to sustain the legacy of the Sachs industrial dynasty. This period marked his integration of with familial responsibilities in sectors tied to automotive innovation and manufacturing. By around 1984, Sachs decided to pivot toward creative pursuits, transitioning away from full-time while retaining his knowledge to support his emerging artistic endeavors. This shift ended his primary focus on but allowed him to draw on prior experiences in managing complex financial and industrial operations.

Studio establishment and management

In 1994, Rolf Sachs relocated to , where he founded the Rolf Sachs Funktion studio, a creative enterprise that integrates , , and functional elements to produce limited-edition works and custom installations. This studio served as the base for his multidisciplinary practice, drawing on his prior experience in to ensure the commercial sustainability of his ventures. Since the 2000s, Sachs has managed Galaxar AG, a single-family office based in with offices in and , responsible for overseeing personal investments, art transactions, and the administration of philanthropic initiatives. Established in 2000, Galaxar AG handles a diverse portfolio including , collections, and other assets across and the , providing a structured framework that supports Sachs' creative endeavors without direct operational overlap. In response to post-Brexit challenges, Sachs expanded operations by relocating to in 2018 and opening a new studio there in 2020, located at Via Giacinto Mompiani 9. This move facilitated continued access to European markets and has contributed to business growth, evidenced by over 20 international commissions since 1995, including projects for in , Selfridges in the UK, in , and De Beers globally. Under the direction of Coralie Malissard, the studio now manages production, exhibitions, and client collaborations, reflecting an evolution toward a more pan-European operational model.

Art and design

Style and influences

Rolf Sachs' artistic style is characterized by a fusion of , experimentalism, and , rooted in purist principles that emphasize form, function, and intellectual engagement. Drawing from Kazimir Malevich's , the movement's , Donald Judd's minimalist sculptures, and ' conceptual explorations of social and material transformation, Sachs creates works that strip away excess to reveal underlying essences. This purist approach manifests in clean lines and reduced palettes, yet it extends beyond mere to interrogate the viewer's preconceptions about objects and space. Infusing his oeuvre with humor, wit, and surreal elements, Sachs challenges conventional perceptions of materials and functionality, often provoking sensory and emotional responses through playful . Influenced by Dadaism's irreverence and Surrealism's dreamlike distortions, his pieces transform everyday items into enigmatic entities that blend the familiar with the absurd, encouraging viewers to reconsider their tactile and psychological interactions. For instance, this wit emerges in works that juxtapose industrial precision with organic whimsy, fostering a sense of wonder and introspection without overt provocation. Sachs places particular emphasis on tactility and , evolving his practice from studies in the late to a mature interdisciplinary approach spanning , , and installation. This progression highlights his commitment to evoking direct, physical engagement, where materials invite touch and reflection on human emotion and impermanence. His studio serves as a vital platform for refining these conceptual experiments, allowing seamless integration across media.

Key works and projects

Rolf Sachs's furniture and oeuvre includes innovative modular systems that prioritize structural ingenuity over traditional . His early series p-arts + fun c'tion, developed in the and revisited in recent exhibitions, features chairs, armchairs, and desks assembled without nails or screws, relying instead on and precise geometric forms to achieve stability and functionality. These pieces exemplify Sachs's approach to as a playful yet exercise, transforming everyday objects into interactive sculptures that challenge conventional notions of utility. A prominent example is the limited-edition Berührung candlestick collection, created in collaboration with Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg in 2023. Crafted from bisque , these s—available in sets of three varying heights—embrace intentional imperfections and subtle asymmetries to evoke tactile intimacy, with the German title translating to "touch" and reflecting Sachs's fascination with sensory engagement. Limited to a small production run, the series has been lauded for reinterpreting 's purity through emotional blemishes, inviting viewers to appreciate flaws as sources of beauty and connection. In , Sachs explores and the passage of time through collaborative and solo projects. The Wild Emperor, co-created with his wife Maryam Sachs in 2004, comprises over 50,000 panoramic images captured every 10.5 minutes throughout 2004 from a fixed at the Rechenau mountain lodge near Kiefersfelden, , documenting the Wilder Kaiser alpine range's shifting light, weather, and moods. This expansive series, published as a book in multiple languages, innovates by rendering nature's ephemerality into a meditative archive, blending documentation with abstract expression to highlight environmental transience. Sachs's 2013 project Camera in Motion: From Chur to Tirano, culminating in a 2016 publication, captures motion-blurred landscapes along Switzerland's UNESCO-listed from through to Tirano, . Using a mounted to record fleeting impressions of speed and scenery, the resulting images fuse human perception with mechanical abstraction, creating a dynamic visual of and transience that has been described as a breathtaking evocation of motion's poetry. Sachs's sculptural and installation works often emphasize tactile emotion and functional redesign. Empathy (2020), an acrylic painting applied directly to a cotton pouf, transforms a mundane seating object into a canvas for expressive, finger-painted gestures that invite physical interaction and emotional resonance. This piece underscores Sachs's "arts emotionnels" philosophy, prioritizing sensory provocation over decorative intent. In 2016, Sachs collaborated with Leica Camera AG on the limited-edition M-P (Typ 240) "grip," a reimagined rangefinder camera featuring a custom red rubber cladding with raised dots for enhanced tactile grip, inspired by ping-pong paddle texture. Limited to 79 sets worldwide, each including a Summilux-M 35mm f/1.4 ASPH lens, carrying strap, and flash in a protective case, the design merges ergonomic innovation with aesthetic boldness, receiving acclaim for elevating the camera into a sculptural artifact that enhances user intuition.

Exhibitions and collaborations

Rolf Sachs has presented several solo exhibitions that highlight his interdisciplinary approach to and design. In 2014, he mounted "typisch deutsch?" at the Museum für Angewandte Kunst (MAKK) in , a major solo show exploring German stereotypes and virtues through conceptual objects, such as a symbolizing industriousness. The , running from January 14 to April 20, reappraised cultural labels and questioned national clichés via works blending , furniture, and installation. More recently, the Kunsthalle hosted Sachs's largest retrospective to date, "Be-rühren," from July 18 to October 5, 2025, featuring over 150 works spanning the 1990s to the present, including modular furniture, , , and installations that emphasize tactile and sensory experiences. The title, a play on the German word for "to touch," underscores Sachs's focus on and material interaction, curated in with the Institute for Cultural Exchange in . Sachs has also contributed set designs to notable opera and ballet productions, integrating his minimalist aesthetic into performative contexts. For the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden's production of Charles Gounod's Faust in 2007, Sachs created a stark, symbolic stage evoking scarcity and contrast through light and minimal forms. This design was adapted for Jean-Christophe Maillot's Faust ballet premiered by Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo in 2007, which toured internationally and emphasized themes of light, shadow, and abstraction. In 2009, Sachs designed the sets for Vincenzo Bellini's Norma at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, choreographed by Maillot, incorporating elemental motifs to support the opera's dramatic intensity. Sachs's collaborations extend to prestigious institutions and commercial projects, bridging art, design, and architecture. His works were featured in exhibitions at the in in 2012, showcasing his conceptual furniture and objects alongside historical collections. Similarly, pieces from Sachs's oeuvre have been displayed at the in , integrating his minimalist and surrealist influences into the museum's narrative. In recent architectural endeavors, Sachs redesigned the headquarters of Graubünder Kantonalbank in , , completed in 2022, in partnership with architects und Hagmann and artist Zilla Leutenegger; the project transformed the banking hall into an interactive space using natural materials like spruce wood to foster creativity and human connection. Additionally, Sachs has partnered with Porzellan Manufaktur Nymphenburg on series, including the 2023 "Berührung" collection of hand-molded bisque candlesticks that challenge traditional craftsmanship by embracing imperfection and tactile manipulation.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Rolf Sachs married Maryam Banihashem, an Iranian-born author and publisher, in 1985. The couple had three children: Philipp, born in 1986; Frederik, born in 1988; and Roya, born in 1991. Sachs and Banihashem divorced around 2014. Since 2014, Sachs has been in a relationship with , a German and painter. The couple, who began dating romantically a decade prior to 2024, share a mutual appreciation for that has influenced their life together. Sachs' children have pursued diverse careers, with Philipp and Frederik working in , while Roya serves as a in New York, reflecting a family environment that supports creative endeavors. In 1994, Sachs relocated his family to , where they resided until 2018.

Residences and lifestyle

Rolf Sachs resided in from 1994 to 2018, where he established his artistic practice and studio. In 2018, he relocated to , , opening a dedicated studio in 2020 within a renovated former car park in the district, designed by architects Elica Sartogo and Nathalie Grenon to incorporate Roman elements like cocciopesto flooring and lime paste walls. He maintains a holiday home in , , converted from the 1928 Winter Olympics stadium—a Bauhaus-style structure customized with alpine motifs, including sporting memorabilia such as hockey sticks and curling stones, alongside modernist furniture like his own Pouring Lights (2006) and Insepar-able (2012). Sachs's lifestyle seamlessly integrates his private art collection, which features modern and contemporary works influenced by his family's heritage as collectors, including pieces by Günther Uecker, Arnulf Rainer, and in his studio, as well as Constructivist drawings in his home. As a philanthropist, he supports cultural institutions through his role as a of London's and donations to its fundraising efforts, such as contributing a limited-edition Ron Arad piece to a 2022 that raised funds for the museum. His commitments extend to Swiss and Italian , channeled via exhibitions and collaborations that promote multidisciplinary creativity in these regions. Reflecting his Swiss-German roots—born in Lausanne and raised partly in St. Moritz—Sachs blends work and leisure in daily practices that emphasize solitude and seasonal rhythms. He spends most days in his studio starting at 9:30 a.m. for seven to eight hours, including weekends, immersing himself in , , and amid a "Wunderkammer" of upcycled objects. Seasonal retreats to allow for leisure in the alpine environment, where he engages with the local creative community, often driving a wicker-basket-topped on mountain roads.

References

  1. https://rolfsachs.com/about-and-contact
  2. https://www.alainelkanninterviews.com/rolf-sachs/
  3. https://www.sothebys.com/en/articles/the-polymath-rolf-sachs-comes-to-sothebys
  4. https://www.worldofinteriors.com/story/rolf-sachs-studio
  5. https://ammann-gallery.com/artists/rolf-sachs/
  6. https://rolfsachs.com/app/uploads/2024/06/rolfsachscv.pdf
  7. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2399149/
  8. https://www.ft.com/content/7e404f2a-7eb0-11e7-ab01-a13271d1ee9c
  9. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/may/09/gunter-sachs-obituary
  10. https://www.nymphenburg.com/en/pages/rolf-sachs
  11. https://alchetron.com/Rolf-Sachs
  12. https://dld-conference.com/speaker/rolf-sachs
  13. https://www.louisaguinnessgallery.com/artists/202-rolf-sachs/biography/size-guide-and-repairs/
  14. https://airmail.news/arts-intel/events/rolf-sachs-be-ruhren
  15. https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2012/may/07/gunter-sachs-appeal-playboy-art-collector
  16. https://www.icij.org/investigations/offshore/after-multi-million-inheritance-playboy-sachs-goes-offshore/
  17. https://www.moneyhouse.ch/en/company/galaxar-ag-3770097451
  18. https://www.galeriewatson.de/artists/32-rolf-sachs/
  19. https://numeromagazine.ch/rolf-sachs-and-the-art-of-sensory-provocation/
  20. https://www.nymphenburg.com/en/pages/rolf-sachs-beruhrung
  21. https://www.luxuriousmagazine.com/rolf-sachs-beruhrung-nymphenburg/
  22. https://www.annarosathomae.com/press-releases-/artist-rolf-sachs-creates-a-limited-collection-of-bisque-porcelain-candlesticks-for-nymphenburg
  23. https://rolfsachs.com/publications/wild-emperor
  24. https://www.photoeye.com/bookstore/citation/TY084
  25. https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20130815-a-photographers-blurred-vision
  26. https://rolfsachs.com/exhibitions/camera-in-motion
  27. https://leica-camera.blog/2013/10/14/rolf-sachs-camera-in-motion/
  28. https://www.kehrerverlag.com/en/rolf-sachs-camera-in-motion-from-chur-to-tirano-978-3-86828-740-0
  29. https://artsupp.com/en/artists/rolf-sachs/empathy
  30. https://www.grieder-contemporary.com/images/ROLF_SACHS/Press_-_Tenderly.pdf
  31. https://rolfsachs.com/works/grip-leica
  32. https://leica-camera.com/en-US/Company/Press-Centre/Press-Releases/Press-Releases-2016/Press-Release-Special-edition-Leica-M-P-%25E2%2580%2598grip%25E2%2580%2598-by-Rolf-Sachs-legendary-rangefinder-technology-meets-creative-design
  33. https://www.reddotforum.com/content/2016/10/leica-announces-m-p-typ-240-grip-by-rolf-sachs-limited-edition-set-with-leica-summilux-m-35mm-f1-4-asph/
  34. https://www.ft.com/content/685ba15e-7d0c-11e3-a579-00144feabdc0
  35. https://rolfsachs.com/exhibitions/typisch-deutsch
  36. https://www.wallpaper.com/art/rolf-sachs-be-ruhren
  37. https://deeds.news/2025/04/largest-institutional-solo-exhibition-by-rolf-sachs-to-date-kunsthalle-schweinfurt-18-07-05-10-2025/?lang=en
  38. https://rolfsachs.com/works/faust-opera
  39. https://rolfsachs.com/works/faust-ballett
  40. https://rolfsachs.com/works/norma
  41. https://rolfsachs.com/exhibitions
  42. https://rolfsachs.com/works/redesign-of-the-graubunder-kantonalbank-headquarters
  43. https://www.swiss-architects.com/de/architecture-news/meldungen/fichtenholz-statt-marmor-die-neue-gkb-schalterhalle
  44. https://www.thepeerage.com/p16237.htm
  45. https://www-ft-com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/content/bb08466a-4db8-4448-b45d-4436880bbd23
  46. https://www.worldofinteriors.com/story/mafalda-von-hessen-looking-in-exhibition
  47. https://coolhunting.com/culture/nowness-in-residence-rolf-sachs/
  48. https://www.ft.com/content/bb08466a-4db8-4448-b45d-4436880bbd23
  49. https://designmuseum.org/about-the-museum/trustees
  50. https://www.wallpaper.com/design/sale-force-an-auction-of-iconic-works-is-set-to-finalise-funds-for-londons-new-design-museum
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