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)
Large Zoomorphic Pitcher by Suzanne Ramié for Madoura, Vallauris circa 1945
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Large zoomorphic pitcher created by Suzanne Ramie for the Madoura workshop circa 1945. Crafted in white glazed earthenware, it features a generous rounded body extended by a stylize...
Ceramic
Unique Piece: Face Vase by Robert and Jean Cloutier, circa 1965
By Cloutier Freres
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Face vase designed by Robert and Jean Cloutier in the 1970s. Made of red ceramic with a white glaze, this piece features a stylized face in relief - a poetic and expressive motif em...
Ceramic
Lino Sabattini, Rare Prototype of the Costrutto Vase, Superego, Italy
By Lino Sabattini
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Prototype of the Costrutto vase, by Lino Sabattini in black enameled ceramic. Signed by the artist. Prototype for Superego production, Asti. Date of creation: 2008.
Ceramic
Mid-Century Modern Vase by Robert and Jean Cloutier, Ceramic, France
By Cloutier Freres
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Vase by Robert and Jean Cloutier, twin masters of French ceramics celebrated for their vibrant and dreamlike works. This vase showcases a cylindrical shape with a flared neck, featu...
Ceramic
Zoomorphic Pitcher by Suzanne Ramié for Madoura, Vallauris circa 1945
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Zoomorphic pitcher created by Suzanne Ramie for the Madoura workshop circa 1945. Crafted in celadon green glazed earthenware, it features a generous rounded body extended by a styl...
Ceramic
Unique piece, Vase by Beatrice Cenci, Italy, circa 1960
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Vase in clay with wiped glaze by Beatrice Cenci. The free and irregular forms evoke a volcanic landscape, structured by multiple openings. The nuanced glazes, combining deep greens ...
Ceramic
Dealbata Porcelain Vase by Alessandro Mendini for Zanotta, '1987'
By Alessandro Mendini, Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An amazing postmodern white porcelain vase designed by Alessandro Mendini (born 1931) for Zanotta's "Edizioni" collection and produced in limited numbers. Released as one of three va...
Porcelain
Ceramic Vase 4 Mani Collection by Alessandro Mendini for Superego Editions
By Alessandro Mendini, Superego Editions
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Ceramic vase Colletto 1 model designed by Alessandro Mendini and decorated by Linde Burkhardt part of 4 Mani Collection made of 6 models. It's a limited edition of 99 pieces. Carried...
Ceramic
Ceramic Vase Model C ABC Collection by Alessandro Mendini for Superego Editions
By Superego Editions, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Ceramic vase model C version 2, ABC collection, designed by Alessandro Mendini and produced by Superego Editions. 29 pieces limited edition. Signed and numbered. Biography Alessandr...
Ceramic
Ceramic Vase 4 Mani Collection by Alessandro Mendini for Superego Editions
By Alessandro Mendini, Superego Editions
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Ceramic vase Colletto 6 model designed by Alessandro Mendini and decorated by Linde Burkhardt part of 4 Mani Collection made of 6 models. It's a limited edition of 99 pieces. Carried...
Ceramic
Alessandro Mendini & Lapo Binazzi for Alessi, Vase '100% Make Up', Italy 1992
By Alessandro Mendini, Memphis Milano, Ettore Sottsass, Alessi
Located in Malmö, SE
A postmodern limited-edition porcelain vase with lid from the first edition of the “100% Make-Up” series by Alessi Tendentse, Italy, released in 1992. The vase’s shape was designed...
Ceramic
Terracotta Vase from Vasi diVisi Collection by Alessandro Mendini
By Alessandro Mendini
Located in Asti, Piemonte
From serie Vasi diVisi, hand painted terracotta. Project realized by Alessandro Guerriero and Alessandra Zucchi for Sacra Famiglia Onlus Foundation in 2017. Limited edition of 9 pieces. Signed. A collection made up of 20 Vases of Faces, handmade in the ceramic workshop by the guests of the Holy Family based on a project and signed by 20 artists and designers.The artists who decorated the Visi Vases are: Manuela Bertoli, Jean Blanchaert, Marianna Bussola, Enrico Cabassi, Massimo Caccia, Massimo Giacon, Stefano Giovannoni, Matteo Guarnaccia, Alessandro Guerriero, Manuela Furlan, Cristina Hamel, Alessandro Mendini, Sofia Paravicini, Chiara Passigli, Valeria Petrone, Elisabetta Reicher, Daniele Ricco...
Terracotta
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.
