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)
Casamania HIM Glossy Chair in White by Fabio Novembre
By Casamania, Fabio Novembre
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“Him & Her are born directly from the ideas behind the Panton Chair. An evolution of the hermaphroditic original, declined into the harmony of the two sexes. They assume sculpted for...
Plastic
Casamania HER Glossy Chair in White by Fabio Novembre
By Fabio Novembre, Casamania
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“Him & Her are clearly born from the assumptions of the Panton Chair. They evolve by declining that hermaphroditic model of perfection in the harmony of the two sexes. They adopt scu...
Plastic
Magis Proust LowChair in Multicolour by Alessandro Mendini
By Alessandro Mendini, Magis
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“I think many people will already know my “Proust armchair”. It is a romantic, baroque chair, on which an endless number of multi-coloured dots are hand-paint- ed using the pointillism technique. These dots cover the whole armchair, both the fabric and the wooden decorations. It’ s a re-design work. It is, in fact, a combination of a mock-antique armchair with a detail from a painting of a garden by French artist Signac. From 1978 onwards, the “Proust armchair” was produced in many versions, using different colours, ma- terials and dimensions, and was even made of ceramics and bronze. It travelled all around the world and was hosted in many museums. But now some truly revolutionary news, as a paradox comes true: the “Proust armchair” has now been transformed into an industrial rotational-moulded piece. Ladies and gentlemen, we bring you “ Magis Proust...
Polystyrene
Casamania HIM Set of two Matt Chairs in White by Fabio Novembre
By Casamania, Fabio Novembre
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“Him & Her are born directly from the ideas behind the Panton Chair. An evolution of the hermaphroditic original, declined into the harmony of the two sexes. They assume sculpted for...
Plastic
Casamania HER Set of two Matt Chairs in White by Fabio Novembre
By Fabio Novembre, Casamania
Located in Brooklyn, NY
“Him & Her are born directly from the ideas behind the Panton Chair. An evolution of the hermaphroditic original, declined into the harmony of the two sexes. They assume sculpted for...
Plastic
Saba Les Femmes Small Armchair in Byblos White Upholstery by Giuseppe Viganò
By Saba Italia
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Les Femmes is an innovative modular couch with a high backrest and a comfortable seat, characterized by its soft, enveloping shape. Using just three elements, its original design per...
Wood
Magis Proust Italian Postmodern Outdoor Armchair by Alessandro Mendini, White
By Alessandro Mendini, Magis
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
Milky White Queen Of Love Armchair by Moro, Pigatti
Located in Geneve, CH
Milky White Queen Of Love Armchair by Moro, Pigatti Dimensions: D 98 x W 103,5 x H 112,5 cm. SH: 38 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Available in different color and finish options. Thi...
Other
Milky White Little Queen Of Love Kids Armchair by Moro, Pigatti
Located in Geneve, CH
Milky White Little Queen Of Love Kids Armchair by Moro, Pigatti Dimensions: D 70 x W 76 x H 83 cm. SH: 32 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Available in different color and finish option...
Other
Magis Proust Italian Postmodern Outdoor Armchair by Alessandro Mendini, Green
By Alessandro Mendini, Magis
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
Opus Garden White Armchair by Carlo Rampazzi
By Sergio Villa
Located in Milan, IT
Part of the Opus Garden collection, this stunning outdoor armchair is an ideal addition to an eclectic patio or contemporary terrace. Its sinuous curves, distinctive of the Opus coll...
Iron
Aluminum Armchair "Industry Garden Furniture" by Seletti, White
By Seletti
Located in Miami, FL
From its very first year in 1964, Seletti in Cicognara, Mantova, has followed its principle of professionality service and constant research to strive for betterness innovation and o...
Aluminum
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.
