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)
Ettore Sottsass Abat-Jour Table Lamp for B and B Italia Italy, 2005, Black Glass
Located in Kansas City, MO
Ettore Sottsass Abat-Jour table lamp for B&B Italia, Italy, 2005. Glazed ceramic base with a blown black glass shade, chrome-plated brass fixtures, and sand-blasted glass diffuse...
Brass, Chrome
Peter Shire Elyssian Heights Floor Lamp
By Peter Shire
Located in Kansas City, MO
This Peter Shire Elyssian Heights floor lamp is a unique, one of a kind made in 1988. The light source is in the center of the fan shaped shade and provides even illumination withou...
Metal
Gaetano Pesce Chador Table Lamp From The Open Sky Series
By Gaetano Pesce, Fish Design
Located in Kansas City, MO
Multicolored Chador Table Lamp From The Open Sky Series designed by Gaetano Pesce. Made of Resin, very sturdy. The Open Sky series was produced in a very limited edition for Fish De...
Resin
Ettore Sottsass Umbrella Stand for Rinovel, 1955
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare Ettore Sottsass umbrella stand for Rinovel, Italy, 1955. Quick shipping in the continental U.S. via FedEx, $175.
Aluminum
Ettore Sottsass Le Connessioni Vase from the Ruins Series by Bitossi Italy, 1992
By Bitossi, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Kansas City, MO
Le Connessioni vase from the Ruins series by Ettore and made by Bitossi for Design Gallery Milano, Italy, 1992. Glazed stoneware. Signed to underside 'Ettore Sottsass 1992 3/9 Bitoss...
Stoneware
Gaetano Pesce, Nobody's Perfect Zerodesegno Dining Table, Multicolor Resin
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Kansas City, MO
Rare and exceptional Gaetano Pesce Nobody's Perfect Zerodesegno dining table. Tubular resin legs support a sturdy resin grid top with a resin "tab...
Resin
Light Pink Here Table Lamp by Alessandro Mendini
Located in Geneve, CH
Light Pink Here Table Lamp by Alessandro Mendini Dimensions: D 14 x W 50 x H 50 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Available in different color options. Prices may vary. This product is s...
Other
Postmodern Milo Floorlamp by Alessandro Mendini, Italy 1980s
By Segno, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Renens, CH
Postmodern floor lamp “Milo” by Alesssandro Mendini for Segno, designed and produced during the late 1980s. The lamp features a multi-coloured enamelled aluminium body with a frost...
Aluminum
Table Lamp by Alessandro Mendini for Artemide, 1990s
By Artemide, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Renens, CH
Memphis-Milano style glass table lamp “Bibi” by Alessandro Mendini, produced by Artemide as part of the Sidecar line. The glass housing is handmade and features nice colorful grap...
Glass
Alessandro Mendini Rare Ollo Lamp for Alchimia Design C. 1988
By Studio Alchimia, Alessandro Guerriero, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Ollo Floor Lamp by Alessandro Mendini for Studio Alchimia, Italy, 1988 Rare “Ollo” floor lamp designed by Alessandro Mendini for Studio Alchimia, circa 1988. A striking example of I...
Metal, Stainless Steel
"Mimi" lamp by Alessandro Mendini for Artemide, 1980
By Alessandro Mendini
Located in PARIS, FR
"Mimi" lamp by Alessandro Mendini for Artemide, 1980 New condition with all its labels and its original box.
Plastic
Alessandro Mendini Attr. Memphis Floor Lamp with Glass Shelves, 1970s
By Alessandro Mendini
Located in Naples, IT
Memphis Floor Lamp with Shelves Attrib. to Alessandro Mendini. It is distinguished by its central column structure with checkerboard decoration (ed The black and white motif is a m...
Metal
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.
