Between 1908 and 1911, John Graz studied architecture, decoration, and design at the School of Fine Arts of Geneva. He started his career by painting landscapes on canvas, which display the influences of Paul Cézanne and Ferdinand Hodler. After meeting Regina Gomide, sister of the painter Antônio Gomide, he married her and they relocated to Brazil in 1920. He became a member of the modernist group in São Paulo and displayed seven canvases at the 1922 Modern Art Week. He also created illustrations for the modernist magazine Klaxon. He was part of Group 7 and was one of the founders of the renowned Sociedade Pró-Arte Moderna (SPAM) in 1932.
Alongside Regina and Antonio Gomide, he was recognized for bringing the art deco style to São Paulo through his work on residential decoration projects. He introduced a line of tubular furniture, combining metal tubing and laminated wood. He made various furniture prototypes, but the Brazilian industry’s limitations prevented large-scale production of many.
His innovative vision, attention to technical details, and exploration of mediums, materials, and processes greatly impacted art, furniture design, and Brazilian decoration.
