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)
Alessandro Mendini Postmodern “Karina” Bench for Baleri Italia
By Alessandro Mendini, Baleri Italia
Located in Miami, FL
Rare Memphis era Karina bench by Alessandro Mendnini and part of the series Poesie d’Anticamera. Grey epoxy steel tube, perforated steel seat with blue felt cushion. Italy 1980s.
Steel
Bench Riva 1920 Unicorno Design Alessandro Mendini - Made of Briccola
By Alessandro Mendini, Riva 1920
Located in Varedo, MB
Brand: Riva 1920 Model: Unicorn Design by: Alessandro Mendini The Unicorno bench is a playful and visionary piece crafted from solid Briccola wood, where craftsmanship meets imagina...
Glass, Wood
$646 / item
H 17.13 in Dm 19.1 in
Baleri Italia Tatino Pouf in Red by Enrico Baleri & Denis Santachiara
By Denis Santachiara, Enrico Baleri, Baleri Italia
Located in Milano, Lombardia
This family of minimalist objects, whose ancestor is Tato, emphasizes whatever is strongly visual and chromatic, without of course overlooking the functional. They are at their best ...
Fabric
$8,090 / item
H 15.75 in W 55.12 in D 15.36 in
Collectible Indoor Outdoor Mollettina Cedar Bench by Baldessari for Riva1920
By Baldessari & Baldessari
Located in New York, NY
The Mollettina Bench is designed by Baldessari e Baldessari, a design studio known for its innovative and playful approach. The bench is inspired by the simple form of a clothes peg (or "molletta" in Italian), transformed into a large-scale piece of functional art. The bench takes the familiar shape of a clothes peg and reinterprets it in a bold and humorous way. The Molletta Bench...
Metal
X Frame Bench by Antonio Citterio for B&B Italia/Maxalto
By Antonio Citterio, Maxalto
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A refined and highly sought-after X Frame bench designed by Antonio Citterio for Maxalto / B&B Italia, exemplifying the brand’s commitment to minimalist Italian modernism and archite...
Steel
$6,670 / item
H 17.52 in W 78.75 in D 15.75 in
Contemporary Bench 'Liang 1' Made of Concrete, by Bentu Design
By Bentu Design
Located in Paris, IDF
LIANG 1 Bench by Bentu Design Concrete Measures: 2000×400×445 mm 140 kg Outdoor use: OK -- Bentu Desing is a Guangzhou-based experimental design studio that explores conce...
Concrete
$17,240 / set
H 17.52 in W 157.49 in D 66.93 in
Modular Benches 'Liang' Made of Terrazzo, by Bentu Design
By Bentu Design
Located in Paris, IDF
LIANG: Modular benches by Bentu Design Concrete and ceramic waste / Terrazzo Measures: 2045 × 1700 × 445 mm + 2000 x 400 x 445 mm 350 kg Outdoor us...
Concrete
$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
$14,130 / item
H 17.72 in W 94.49 in D 16.54 in
Mountains Outdoor Bench in Solid Cedar with Vulcano Finish by Riva1920
Located in New York, NY
The Mountains Bench by Hsiao‑Ching Wang for Riva 1920 is a sculptural seating piece carved from a single block of solid cedar wood. Its flowing, undulating ...
Cedar
$20,540 / item
H 17.52 in W 80.32 in D 66.93 in
Contemporary Bench 'Liang 2' Made of Terrazzo, by Bentu Design
By Bentu Design
Located in Paris, IDF
LIANG 2 Bench by Bentu Design Concrete and ceramic waste / Terrazzo 2045×1700×445 mm 206 kg Outdoor use: OK Module bench: assemble LIANG 1 and LIANG 2 to create a sculptura...
Concrete
$1,142 / item
H 14.57 in Dm 30.71 in
Baleri Italia Tatone Pouf in Fabric by Enrico Baleri & Denis Santachiara
By Denis Santachiara, Baleri Italia, Enrico Baleri
Located in Milano, Lombardia
This family of minimalist objects, whose ancestor is Tato, emphasizes whatever is strongly visual and chromatic, without of course overlooking the functional. They are at their best ...
Fabric
$6,670 / item
H 17.52 in W 78.75 in D 15.75 in
Contemporary Bench 'Liang 1' Made of Concrete, by Bentu Design
By Bentu Design
Located in Paris, IDF
LIANG 1 Bench by Bentu Design Concrete Measure: 2000×400×445 mm 140 kg Outdoor use: OK -- Bentu Desing is a Guangzhou-based experimental design studio that explores concep...
Concrete
$1,110 / item
H 16.54 in W 42.13 in D 22.05 in
Baleri Italia Tato Bean Pouf in Blue Indigo by Enrico Baleri
By Enrico Baleri, Baleri Italia
Located in Milano, Lombardia
This family of minimalist objects, whose ancestor is Tato, emphasizes whatever is strongly visual and chromatic, without of course overlooking the functional. They are at their best ...
Fabric
Italian Postmodern Leather Bench
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A spectacular 1980s Italian Postmodern bench. The bench is constructed of steel that’s powder coated in a metallic gray and the cushion is a soft li...
Sold
H 29.93 in W 59.06 in D 15.36 in
Panca Karina, design di Alessandro Mendini per Baleri Italia, 1985
By Baleri Italia, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Panca mod. Karina, con tubo in acciaio e sedile in acciaio perforato laccato nero, disegnata da Alessandro Mendini per Baleri Italia. Anno 1985.
Steel