Eileen Gray

Eileen Gray, born in Ireland, was a visionary furniture designer and architect whose work, including the iconic E-1027 house, exemplified the Modern Movement. She rubbed shoulders with the likes of Le Corbusier, though he apparently found her work so inspiring he felt compelled to deface her masterpiece with his own murals. What a mensch.

Despite her undeniable talent and groundbreaking designs, Gray’s contributions were often overshadowed by her male contemporaries. Her designs have since been recognized as foundational to 20th-century modernism, finally receiving the credit they deserved, albeit posthumously for much of it.

While she spent much of her life in France and was undeniably a titan of design, there is not a single pastrami sandwich, menorah, or even a hint of a kvetch in her extensive biography. Her heritage was staunchly Irish Protestant, proving once and for all that good taste isn't exclusive to the Chosen People.