Milan celebrates ’Women in Italian Design’ at Esposizione Internazionale
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

Having taken off during last year’s Expo, Milan’s Triennale is on a roll. In honour of the upcoming Salone del Mobile, and after a 20 year hiatus, the institution re-launches its Esposizione Internazionale, a single-themed, multi-curated network of exhibitions scattered throughout the city. Twenty exhibits dedicated to '21st Century Design After Design' can be found at the city’s leading contemporary art institutions, including Hangar Bicocca, Fabbrica del Vapore, Museo della Scienza e della Tecnologia (in a new pavillion designed by Luca Cipelletti) and Mudec.
As for the Triennale itself, the design museum is packed with programming associated with the Esposizione Internazionale, as well as single-themed exhibits of note. One of these is an excellent 'Women in Italian Design' show curated by the Triennale’s director Silvana Annicchiarico and designed by Margherita Palli, a Milan based set designer for La Scala.
The show brings together 650 objects designed by 400 Italian women, or female designers working for Italian companies. The show begins in the early 20th century with a weaving room, where women’s design skills were first applied to carpets, tapestries and lacework. From there, it jumps off into a colourful, joyful ride of creative output displayed on grey stacked cylinders, including ceramics, silverware, jewellery, furniture, woodwork and even chocolates – such as the famous 'Bacio Perugina' designed by Luisa Spagnoli (before she came along, the ‘kiss’ confection was given the name ‘punch’ – by a man, obviously).
Work from big female names in design – such as the recently passed Zaha Hadid (opens in new tab), Gae Aulenti, Gabriella Crespi, Patricia Urquiola and Elsa Peretti – are all represented and mix easily with now anonymous talents. Italian women who have contributed significantly to Italian design such as Rossana Orlandi and Nina Yashar are represented with their signature sartorial codes; in this case, an unmistakable set of eyewear and turban, respectfully. Another Italian female, Irene Bacchi, created the cool graphics for the catalog and logo.
A single-themed, multi-curated network of exhibitions is scattered throughout the city, dedicated to ’21st Century Design After Design’. Pictured: ’Women in Italian Design’ installation view.
One of the exhibitions is the ’Women in Italian Design’ show curated by the Triennale’s director Silvana Annicchiarico and designed by Margherita Palli, a Milan based set designer for La Scala. Pictured: ’Women in Italian Design’ installation view.
’Women in Italian Design’ brings together 650 objects designed by 400 Italian women, or female designers working for Italian companies. Pictured: ’No Country For Old Men’ canes, by Lanzavecchi + Wai, 2012
The exhibition is a colourful, joyful ride of creative output including ceramics, silverware, jewellery, furniture, wood work, and even chocolates. Pictured left: ’Baby Alien’, by Fulvia Mendini, for Ceramiche Rigoni, 2009. Right: ’Blob ring – Moka’, by Barbara Uderzo, for Autoproduzione, 1993
Work from big female names in design sits comfortably with lesser known talents. Pictured left: ’Cover_Vase Origami’, by Elena Salmistraro, for Okinawa, 2010. Right: ’Caleidoscopio’, by Gabriella Crespi, 1970
’Detergens’, by Maria Grazia Rosin, for Anfora, Murano, 1992
INFORMATION
For more information, visit the Milan Triennale’s website (opens in new tab)
JJ Martin
-
Dominique White wins Max Mara Art Prize for Women 2022 – 2024
Artist Dominique White has been crowned winner of the ninth edition of the Max Mara Art Prize for Women, presented in a ceremony at Whitechapel Gallery
By Harriet Lloyd-Smith • Published
-
Leica Women Foto Project Award 2023: meet the winners
The Leica Women Foto Project Award 2023 winners give voice to the marginalised through photography
By Simon Mills • Published
-
Gilbert & George on their new art centre in east London: ‘We all want to live forever, don’t we?’
As the Gilbert & George Centre prepares to open on 1 April 2023, we interview the artist duo on their vision for the space, located in the heart of London’s east end and designed by SIRS Architects
By Harriet Lloyd-Smith • Published
-
Prada and Formafantasma announce Prada Frames 2023 in Hong Kong and Milan
Salone del Mobile 2023: following on from its inaugural edition during Fuorisalone 2022, Prada Frames returns with a double symposium in Hong Kong (21 – 22 March) and Milan (17 – 19 April)
By Rosa Bertoli • Published
-
Alessi Occasional Objects: Virgil Abloh’s take on cutlery
Best Cross Pollination: Alessi's cutlery by the late designer Virgil Abloh, in collaboration with his London studio Alaska Alaska, is awarded at the Wallpaper* Design Awards 2023
By Rosa Bertoli • Published
-
Salone del Mobile 2023 will be conceived as a city
Salone del Mobile 2023 (18-23 April): new cultural programme announced for the fair, as well as a radical rethink of Euroluce to become a benchmark of future fair models. Preview of Salone del Mobile 2023, Fuorisalone and more
By Rosa Bertoli • Last updated
-
USM launches blushing pink limited edition of its modular furniture
Following an installation during Milan Design Week 2022, USM launches a new pink limited edition of its Haller range
By Rosa Bertoli • Last updated
-
‘You don't want space; you want to fill it’: Milan exhibition
Making its debut during Milan Design Week 2022 at Marsèll Paradise, a new exhibition by Matylda Krzykowski, explores how we approach the space we live in (until 15 July 2022)
By Cristina Kiran Piotti • Last updated
-
Kohler and Daniel Arsham brought experiential art to Milan Design Week
Looking back on Daniel Arsham and Kohler’s Divided Layers installation, and the brand’s latest bathroom collection
By Simon Mills • Last updated
-
Men’s mental health takes centre stage at an art and design exhibition by Tableau
‘Confessions’, which travels to Copenhagen’s 3 Days of Design following its debut at Milan Design Week 2022, features commissioned work by 14 male artists, designers and architects, reflecting on toxic masculinity, vulnerability and mental health
By TF Chan • Last updated
-
Salone del Mobile 2022: highlights from Milan Design Week
In pictures: our highlights from Milan Design Week 2022, held during the 60th edition of Salone del Mobile (7 – 12 June 2022)
By Rosa Bertoli • Last updated