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)
21st Century Alessandro Mendini Gemella Murano Transparent Glass Vase Grey
By Purho Murano, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st century Alessandro Mendini, GEMELLA transparent vase, Murano glass. Purho continues to search for products with complementary shapes with the pair of Gemello and Gemella vases d...
Murano Glass
21st Century Alessandro Mendini Murano Glass Small Vase Steel Grey
By Alessandro Mendini, Purho Murano
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st century Alessandro Mendini, Petalo small vase, 6 petals, Murano glass, various colors Petal is a rounded vase that, thanks to some fine metal wires, when blown creates lobed sha...
Murano Glass
21st Century Alessandro Mendini Gemello Murano Frosted Glass Vase Grey
By Purho Murano, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st century Alessandro Mendini, GEMELLO frosted vase, Murano glass. Purho continues to search for products with complementary shapes with the pair of Gemello and Gemella vases desig...
Murano Glass
21st Century Alessandro Mendini Gemello Murano Vase Topaz
By Purho Murano, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st Century Alessandro Mendini, GEMELLO transparent vase, Murano glass. Purho continues to search for products with complementary shapes with the pair of Gemello and Gemella vases ...
Murano Glass
21st Century Alessandro Mendini Gemella Murano Vase Topaz
By Purho Murano, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st Century Alessandro Mendini, GEMELLO transparent vase, Murano glass. Purho continues to search for products with complementary shapes with the pair of Gemello and Gemella vases ...
Murano Glass
21st Century Alessandro Mendini Large Vase in Murano Glass Various Colors
By Purho Murano, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st century Alessandro Mendini Freccia large vase in Murano glass various colors. Designed by Alessandro Mendini, Freccia is a triangular base vase with an integral side which serv...
Murano Glass
Italian Modern Vase in Grey Murano Glass from the I Sommersi Series, 1970s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern vase in gray murano glass from the I Sommersi series, 1970s. Irregularly shaped vase in gray murano glass. 1970s. From the I Sommersi series. Very good conditions. ...
Glass, Murano Glass
Italian Murano Glass Vase, Gray Postmodern Flared Vessel, Giovanni Dalla Fina
By Giovanni Dalla Fina
Located in Villaverla, IT
Italian Murano glass vase featuring a gray postmodern flared vessel shape from the 1980s, expertly handcrafted in Venice, Italy by master glassblower Giovanni Dalla Fina. This excep...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Cut Glass, Milk Glass, Murano Glass
Hand Blown Murano Goccia Vase in Grey Small
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This Murano vase exudes a contemporary allure, merging geometric precision with the organic inspiration of a raindrop. Crafted by master glassmakers, this piece showcases a striking ...
Murano Glass
c. 1960, Murano Sommerso Glass Vase - Smoky Grey - 6.69 in
By Murano Glass Sommerso
Located in SANT ADRIÀ DE BESÒS, ES
Authentic Murano Sommerso glass vase, Italy, circa 1960s. This sculptural piece features a smoky grey inner form with subtle twisting movement, encased within thick clear crystal. Th...
Murano Glass
Giant Mandruzzato Murano Sommerso Smoked Grey Clear Faceted Art Glass Vase
By Alessandro Mandruzzato
Located in Barcelona, ES
Excellent Sommerso huge vase with faceted glass in shades of grey. Dark and clear grey glass cased into clear glass using the Sommerso technique. Attributed to Mandruzzato, Italy, 19...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Cut Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso
Hand Blown Murano Vase Goccia in Grey Medium
Located in West Hollywood, CA
This Murano vase exudes a contemporary allure, merging geometric precision with the organic inspiration of a raindrop. Crafted by master glassmakers, this piece showcases a striking ...
Murano 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.
