Lapa Ceiling Fan with Light

Ron Rezek is a design entrepreneur whose lamp designs are icons of modern lighting. He established Highlights, a group of five high-end lighting showrooms, and founded and co-owns (with Artemide) Ron Rezek Lighting.

He is also founder of, and designer for, The Modern Fan Company, manufacturer of contemporary ceiling fans. His lighting and ceiling fans are state-of-the-art and reflect his philosophy of "simplicity in form and economy in production." Ron's masterful designs have attracted a huge following of sophisticated consumers who understand and appreciate his products.

What makes Ron Rezek so unique? His work is a clear expression of his love of good design and his commitment to modern design aesthetics. He credits Henry Dreyfuss, Charles Eames, Neils Different, and Don Chadwick, his teachers, as his major influences. He also names Deborah Sussman and Frank Gehry, two former employers, as key figures in his design education.

After receiving a M.F.A. from UCLA, Rezek spent his early career teaching at UCLA's art and architecture departments, the Art Center College of Design, and Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCIA). He was also participating in design exhibitions where he translated his passion for simple design into modern light fixtures.

In 1978, encouraged by the response to several of his own lighting designs, he started Ron Rezek Lighting. His goal was simple: to modernize the decorative lighting industry. As a designer of modern lighting, Rezek was always disappointed by the way contemporary lighting was presented and sold.

According to Rezek, "In showrooms, my products were inevitably displayed between crystal chandeliers and baroque lamps. I felt that a lighting showroom with only current lighting designs would serve both the retail and design communities. I envisioned a 'gallery of lights' featuring the best modern designs." This dissatisfaction was the inspiration for Highlights, a group of lighting showrooms, the first of which opened in 1990.

In 1997, Rezek renewed his creativity with contemporary ceiling fan design and founded The Modern Fan Company. Motivated by his belief that the ubiquitous Victorian style design left a great deal to be desired, he went on to design and produce twelve sleek, simple, and modern ceiling fans. The Modern Fan Company is the first to produce a ceiling fan with fluorescent lighting and is a charter member of EPA's (Environmental Protection Agency) Energy Star program, which recognizes excellence in product efficiency. Ron Rezek is still hard at work, and divides his time between Southern Oregon and Los Angeles.