Gino Sarfatti was born in Venice in 1912 and studied at the University of Genoa. He worked with lighting and set up the company Arteluce, which soon became internationally known.

During his thirty year career, Sarfatti designed and produced over 400 luminaires and carried out research into different aspects of design, as well as materials, production technologies, light sources and technical lighting effects. His designs are internationally acknowledged, particularly his pendant lamp 2097.