Harry Bertoia was born in Udine, Italy and emigrated in 1930 with his family to the United States. Six years later he graduated from the Technical High School, Detroit and was trained afterwards at the Cranbrook Academy of Arts, Michigan.

Later on Bertoia established at Cranbrook a metalworking studio and taught there from 1939 to 1943.

After the war he worked with the Charles and Ray Eames at the Evans Products Company developing techniques for moulding plywood. This let later to a partnership with the Eameses, when Bertoia worked with them at the Plyformed Products Company in Venice, California.

His innovative wire chairs, designed for Knoll International in 1951, were commercially very successful. Because of their transparent character they fit well in libraries and lounge areas.