Alessandro Mendini was born in Milan in 1931. Through his work as an architect, designer, journalist, theorist and publisher, Mendini helped establish the Italian design sensibility on a global scale with a particular focus on neo-modern, avant-garde design as well as the crossover between art, design and architecture.
Mendini’s influential work spanned the arenas of graphics, furniture, interiors, architecture, stage design, writing and painting. He graduated from the Polytechnic University of Milan in 1959, and he began his career at the studio of artist-designer Marcello Nizzoli. He went on to become the publisher of the popular magazines Casabella (1970–76), Modo and Domus (each 1979–85).
In 1979, Mendini joined Ettore Sottsass and Michele de Lucchi as a partner at Studio Alchimia, a harbinger of the Memphis Group before he cofounded Domus Academy in 1982. In 1989, he and his brother Francesco established their architectural practice, Atelier Mendini, in Milan, where he worked until his death in February 2019. In recognition of his outstanding body of work, Mendini was awarded the Compasso d’Oro twice, in 1979 and 1981. He was also honored by the Architectural League of New York, made Chevalier des Arts et Lettres in France, and, in 2014, he was awarded the European Prize for Architecture.
Mendini’s work is included in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum and the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Centre Pompidou in Paris, among others.
Find vintage Alessandro Mendini chairs, vases, table lamps and other furniture and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
(Biography provided by STUDIO CADMIUM)
Pair Alessandro Mendini 'Cubosfera' wall lights for Fidenza Vetraria c1960
By Alessandro Mendini
Located in London, GB
Pair Alessandro Mendini 'Cubosfera' wall lights Alessandro Mendini for Fidenza Vetraria. Italy c1960 Excellent condition. No nicks or chips to glasss
Brass
Pair of Emma Gismondi Schweinberger 'Chi' table lamps Artemide, Italy, 1962
Located in London, GB
An elegant pair of 1960s glass table lamps by Italian designer Emma Gismondi Schweinberger Nickeled brass, satinated glass.
Brass, Nickel
Pair of Gae Aulenti 'Neverrino' table lamps for Vistosi. Italy c1960
By Vistosi, Gae Aulenti
Located in London, GB
Lovely pair of Gae Aulenti table lights for Vistosi, Italy c1960 Also available in the same glass, a larger table light a small pendant light and a plafonnier.
Metal
Alessandro Mendini wall lights. Set of nine
By Alessandro Mendini, Fidenza Vetraria
Located in London, GB
Rare set of 9 'Cubosfera' wall lights by Alessandro Mendini for Fidenza Vetraria. Italy c1960
Brass
Two Sergio Mazza 'Alfa' table lights. Original edition c1960
By Sergio Mazza, Artemide
Located in London, GB
Matched pair of original Sergio Mazza table lights from 1960s Italy Marble, glass and nickelled brass. Original edition from 1960s with the 'ring' finial All in very good conditi...
Marble, Brass, Nickel
Pair of Large Minimalist Gallotti and Radice Table Lights, Italy c1965
By Gallotti & Radice
Located in London, GB
A rare pair of Gallotti and Radice table lights. There were three sizes of this model. These being the largest size. Measures: Height. 65cm.
Nickel
Rare Pair of Satin Cubosfera Lamps by Mendini for Fidenza Vetraria, 1960s
By Alessandro Mendini, Fidenza Vetraria
Located in Brescia, Brescia
An exceptionally rare pair of “Cubosfera” table lamps designed by Alessandro Mendini for Fidenza Vetraria, Italy, in the 1960s. Among the most distinctive expressions of Italian lig...
Brass
Set of Two Hand-Blown Ice-Glass Cube Table Lamps by Müller & Zimmer Germany
By Fidenza Vetraria, Alessandro Mendini
Located in München, BY
Set of two elegant Mid-Century Modern hand blown ice glass cube table lamps in the style of Cubo Sfera by Allessandro Mendini. These ones are designed and manufactured by Müller & Zi...
Blown Glass
Set di 2 Lampada Cubosfera, Alessandro Mendini, 1980
By Alessandro Mendini
Located in Milano, Lombardia
La lampada Cubosfera è effettivamente un design notevole creato dall’architetto e designer italiano Alessandro Mendini nel 1980. Questa lampada iconica presenta una forma sferica com...
Stained Glass
Set of Two Hand Blown Cubic Table Lamps by Müller & Zimmer, 1970s, Germany
By Fidenza Vetraria, Alessandro Mendini
Located in München, BY
Set of two elegant Mid-Century Modern hand blown ice glass table lamps in the style of Cubo Sfera by Allessandro Mendini. These ones are desinged and manufactured by Müller & Zimmer ...
Blown Glass
Cubosfera Glass Table Lamps by Alessandro Mendini for Fidenza Vetraria, c.1968
By Alessandro Mendini, Fidenza Vetraria
Located in London, GB
An original pair of glass 'Cubosfera' table lamps designed by Alessandro Mendini for Fidenza Vetraria, Italy, c.1968. The Cubosfera plays with simple geometry and light... Its clear,...
Aluminum
Pair of 1980s Memphis Style Glass 'BiBi' Table Lamps for Artemide
By Alessandro Mendini, VeArt, Artemide
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of 1980s Memphis Style Glass 'BiBi' Table Lamps for Artemide. Designed by Alessandro Mendini. Handcrafted in sky blue Murano glass, this petite lamp is strongly associated with ...
Glass, Art Glass
Alessandro Mendini, Michael Graves, Ettore Sottsass and other design luminaries contributed to this unusual collection of porcelain wares representing a time capsule of late-20th-century decorative art.
Aided by photos taken of the maestro in his Milan studio, we honor the influential design talent who died last month at 87.
