Kohler’s ‘The Creator’s Journey’ presents artful thinking at Milan Design Week
Salone del Mobile 2023: Kohler’s ‘The Creator’s Journey’ features works by a group of female artists and an installation by sculptor Janet Echelman

Discover the Wallpaper* guide to Salone del Mobile 2023 and Milan Design Week
Kohler, a global pioneer in design and innovation, has embarked on a mission of discovery with four female artists from across the globe, as part of ‘The Creator's Journey’, presented at this year's Milan Design Week 2023.
Kohler’s ‘The Creator's Journey’
Ananda Nahú from Brazil, Ziling Wang from China, Pushpa Kumari from India, and Elle from the United States have created a limited-edition collection of 12 Artist Editions products, each an ode to the beauty of the bathroom. The artists have infused their unique visual expressions into Kohler's products, transforming them into works of art.
This international collection is a tribute to Kohler's 150th anniversary, displaying the brand's dedication to the fusion of art and craftsmanship. Every product, from the ‘Numi 2.0 ’smart toilet to the ‘Brazn’ sink and bathtub, is adorned with exquisite textures that delight the senses, sinuous patterns that stir the imagination, complex illustrations that spark curiosity, and charming landscapes that transport the viewer to faraway lands. Each piece is a tribute to Kohler's vision of making beauty a part of everyday rituals.
Kohler at Milan Design Week 2023: installation by Janet Echelman
Pieces from the Artist Editions collection, part of Kohler's ‘The Creator's Journey’ 2023, beneath an installation by Janet Echelman
At Milan’s Palazzo del Senato, visitors will be greeted by a monumental aerial sculpture, Noli Timere, by American artist and sculptor Janet Echelman. Suspended overhead, the sculpture captivates onlookers with its dynamic shape and graceful movement, paying homage to the force of water streams. Echelman, who once participated in Kohler's Arts/Industry residency programme in Wisconsin, has also collaborated with Kohler on an Artist Editions vessel sink, ‘18.02’, which is displayed in the exhibition.
The journey culminates in an immersive digital experience that beckons visitors to unleash their inner artist. As they enter The Creator's room, a kaleidoscope of colours, patterns, and shapes envelops them, offering an infinite canvas for self-expression. Every movement in space ignites a burst of creativity as visitors bring art to life with their own unique flair.
Kohler's ‘The Creator's Journey’ is a celebration of the cross-section of artistry and craftsmanship. 'This new Artist Editions collection celebrates women of exceptional talent and diverse backgrounds,’ says Laura Kohler, chief sustainability and diversity officer for Kohler Co. It is a tribute to the beauty that can be found in everyday rituals and an invitation to explore the infinite possibilities of creativity.
Kohler's ‘The Creator's Journey’ is on view from 18 to 23 April 2023
Palazzo del Senato
Via Senato, 10
20121 Milano
Maria Cristina Didero is an independent design curator, consultant and author, who has contributed to many publications over the years; she is currently Milan editor of Wallpaper* . Didero has consulted for companies such as Vitra, Fritz Hansen, Lexus, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Valextra among others. Based in Milan, she works internationally, curating exhibitions for institutions: some of her most recent projects include Nendo: The Space in Between and The Conversation Show at the Holon Design Museum, Israel; FUN HOUSE by Snarkitecture at National Building Museum, Washington D.C.; SuperDesign a project about Italian radical design, NY; Vegan Design, or the Art of Reduction by Erez Nevi and The Fish and The Crowd by Carlo Massoud, Milan. In April 2022 she curated a Mathieu Lehanneur exhibition at the Triennale in Milan called The Inventory of Life, while in July she debuted a project at the MK&G in Hamburg titled Ask Me if I Believe in the Future, alongside a series of ongoing collaborations. She was appointed 2022 Curatorial Director of Design Miami/. She is currently preparing two projects for Milan Design Week 2023.
-
New London show ‘Hardcore’ probes the power dynamics of desire
At Sadie Coles HQ, London, the provocative exhibition ‘Hardcore’ is a bold, explicit exploration of carnal desires and intimacy
By Harriet Lloyd-Smith • Published
-
Parisian jewellery brand Héloïse & Abélard is championing secondhand diamonds
Héloïse Schapiro marries fluid jewellery design with sustainable methods
By Hannah Silver • Published
-
Vauxhall Astra hybrid is sober and stealthy
Once a mainstay of the best-seller lists, the Vauxhall Astra’s star is fading. Can hybridisation put this modest machine back on the radar?
By Jonathan Bell • Published
-
Poliform outdoor collection is presented through a meditative installation
Poliform’s new alfresco lifestyle vision was displayed in Milan within the Chiostri di San Simpliciano, merging sound and vision in an immersive showcase
By Cristina Kiran Piotti • Published
-
Bitossi’s fruity lighting and furniture is totally bananas
Bitossi sees fruit and vegetables become lighting and furniture in a creative collaboration with Robert Stadler and Carwan Gallery
By Rosa Bertoli • Published
-
Six Singaporean designers look at the impact of design and new technologies on our lives
Supported by DesignSingapore Council, ‘Future Impact’ at Milan Design Week 2023 presents Singapore as a design-led hub of innovation and creativity
By Cristina Kiran Piotti • Published
-
Art meets commerce: Molteni & C Salone del Mobile pavilion features murals by Roberto Ruspoli
At Salone del Mobile 2023, Molteni & C presents a contemporary interpretation of the Roman Domus, featuring murals by Roberto Ruspoli: watch the video
By Rosa Bertoli • Published
-
LiveinSlums and Giacomo Moor collaborate on functional furniture for Nairobi’s largest slum
‘Design for Communities’ by LiveinSlums and Giacomo Moor at Assab One (until 26 May 2023) puts the slum’s inhabitants at its heart
By Hannah Silver • Last updated
-
Flexform photography show celebrates the sofa specialist’s heritage in pictures
Defining Flexform photography from its ad campaigns past transforms the brand’s Milan flagship store into a must-visit for Milan Design Week 2023
By Cristina Kiran Piotti • Published
-
A lamp for Millennials and Gen Z: Philippe Malouin’s lighting debut for Flos
At Euroluce 2023, Flos unveils ‘Bilboquet’ by Philippe Malouin, a new table lamp that marks the London-based designer’s debut with the lighting brand
By Rosa Bertoli • Published
-
Ikea 80th anniversary collection is a colourful treasure trove of great designs
The Nytillverkad collection celebrates Ikea’s 80th anniversary with forward-facing materials and fresh new colours
By Emma O'Kelly • Published