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)
$1,800
H 36 in W 17.5 in D 19 in
Postmodern "Ambrogio" Chair By Alessandro Mendini For Studio Alchimia
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This Postmodern chair was designed by the acclaimed architect and designer Alessandro Mendini (1931–2019) for Studio Alchimia in 1983. This chair balances colorblocking with geomet...
Wood
$13,000Sale Price|25% Off
H 54 in W 36.5 in D 19.5 in
Alessandro Mendini 'Zabro' Chair Table for Zanotta, Original 1984 Prod, Signed
By Zanotta, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This amazing collectors piece of Post-Modern design is an original 1980s production of the 'Zabro' chair (which easily transforms into a table) designed in 1984 by Alessandro Mendini...
Leather, Wood
$9,750
H 43 in W 41.25 in D 36.5 in
Italian Postmodern Proust Geometrica Armchair Alessandro Mendini by Cappellini
By Alessandro Mendini, Cappellini
Located in Portland, OR
An iconic chair designed by Italian postmodern designer Alessandro Mendini (1931-2019). This wonderful postmodern work of art presented as a chair is in excellent condition and ready to display in your space. Proust was originally created in 1978 for the Palazzo dei Diamanti in Ferrara. It was immediately recognized as an icon of twentieth century design and one of the most renowned and essential reference points in the quest for form and aesthetic perfection. Cappellini inherited the piece in 1993 and today Proust Geometrica...
Fabric, Cotton, Upholstery, Foam, Beech, Paint
Riva 1920 GOFFO Chair - design Alessandro Mendini
By Riva 1920
Located in Varedo, MB
Riva 1920 GOFFO Chair Design: Alessandro Mendini The GOFFO Chair is a sculptural seating piece crafted from oak slats sourced from Barrique barrels. Its seat is formed from the barr...
Wood
$2,298 / item
H 41.34 in W 40.95 in D 35.44 in
Magis Proust Italian Postmodern Outdoor Armchair - Alessandro Mendini Multicolor
By Magis, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Varedo, MB
Designed by Alessandro Mendini, the Proust Armchair is one of the most celebrated icons of Italian Postmodern design. Originally created in 1978, this extraordinary armchair reinterp...
Plastic
Original Proust Armchair by Alessandro Mendini, Italy
By Alessandro Mendini
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Historical piece of contemporary design, the Proust armchair with carved and hand painted wooden frame, fixed multicolored fabric hand- painted lining ...
Wood
$14,717 / set
H 38.59 in W 39.77 in D 39.38 in
Italian Post Modern Alessandro Mendini Multi Color Leather Lounge Chair
By Alessandro Mendini
Located in Weesp, NL
Introducing the ultimate in luxury and style: the limited edition San Leonardo lounge chair designed by Alessandro Mendini in 1986 for Matteo Grassi Italy. Numbered 14/100 and comple...
Leather
Robert Venturi Sheraton chair for Knoll Postmodern 80s
By Knoll, Robert Venturi
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Robert Venturi chair for knoll Model: Sheraton Silkscreen printed pattern on black plywood. Rare model in famous Venturi's chairs in Knoll collection.
Plywood
$16,846 / item
H 42.13 in W 41.34 in D 36.62 in
Proust hand-carved and handpainted Armchair by Alessandro Mendini for Cappellini
By Cappellini, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
One of the most acclaimed design pieces in the world, the Proust armchair by Alessandro Mendini was launched in 1978, when it was used to furnish the Palazzo dei Diamanti, in Ferrara...
Beech
$12,951
H 35.44 in W 20.48 in D 19.69 in
Gaetano Pesce Armchair - Nobody's Perfect - Collection , Zerodisegno, 2000's
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in PARIS, FR
Nobody's perfect chair by Gaetano Pesce, Zerodisegno / Italy, 2003 Mark: Zerodisegno / Gaetano Pesce, 2003 Signed and dated 19 05 03 UNIQUE PIECE.
Resin
1980ies Palace chair designed by George Sowden for Memphis Milano
By George Sowden, Memphis Milano
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
1980ies Memphis Milano Palace chair in colored lacquered wood designed by George Sowden, 1983. George Sowden studied architecture at Glouc...
Plywood
Nathalie chair designed by Nathalie du Pasquier for Memphis Milano ca. 1990
By Nathalie du Pasquier, Memphis Milano
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
Nathalie chair designed by Nathalie du Pasquier for Memphis Milano, 1987 Manufactured by Memphis Milano, circa 1990 The French artist and designer Nathalie du Pasquier was one of t...
Steel, Chrome
Zanotta Editioni Collection Sirfo Table designed by Alessandro Mendini 1986
By Alessandro Mendini
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
Post-modern Sirfo Goose table from the Zanotta Editioni Collection, designed by Alessandro Mendini in 1986 manufactured by Zanotta, Italy Painted Aluminu...
Steel, Aluminum
Easy Lounge chair design Gunter Renkel for Twen Rego 1950ies
By Günter Renkel
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
beautifull easy lounge chair in plywood, designed by Gunter Renkel in 1959 for Twen Rego, Netherlands. With it’s very reduced plywood seat shell in contrast to the minimalist steel ...
Steel
Penguin Lounge Chair designed by Ib Kofod Larsen for Selig
By Selig, Ib Kofod-Larsen
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
Penguin lounge chair designed by Ib Kofod Larsen in 1953, for Selig. This editon was produced under license by Selig in the 1960ies in a small series in the US Characteristic for t...
Steel
Organic 1950s Madame Lounge Chair in Boucle Designed by Fritz Neth, 1955
By Fritz Neth
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
Organic 1950ies Madame lounge chair in Boucle designed by Fritz Neth 1955 high back Lounge chair, designed by Fritz Neth for Correcta foams compan...
Steel
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.
