Get ready for the annual overload of inspiration as Milan Design Week takes place from April 17th to 23rd. Showcasing work from the finest designers, architects and artists in the world, this yearly event promises to offer something for everyone – from luxury furniture and home décor to cutting-edge lighting and architecture. Taking a deep dive into the schedule, we've selected a few exhibitions that should not be missed. Check it out below, and stay tuned for more Milan Design Week coverage!
Salone del Mobile 2023
Taking place every year during Milan Design Week, Salone del Mobile is one of the biggest design shows. For anyone involved in design, from industry pros to design enthusiasts, this event is a must-attend. Thousands of exhibitors and visitors come from all over the world to see the latest furniture, lighting, and decor trends.
Chairs, Loewe
This year's Loewe Milan exhibition focuses on the humble chair. However, in true Loewe fashion, the ubiquitous item is elevated through its craft, with artisans from all over the world employing a wide range of techniques to make it their own. The grand Palazzo Isimbardi will feature unexpected materials alongside those that are typical of the label's visual language.
Desacralized, Galerie Philia
As part of Milan Design Week 2023, Galerie Philia presents a dreamlike exhibition called ‘Desacralized’ within the church of San Vittore e 40 Martiri. Under a lofty vaulted ceiling, the gallery features lighting and furniture from more than twenty international designers, both established and emerging, including Rick Owens and Ukrainian studio Faina.
Poikilos, Objects of Common Interest
An exhibition exploring iridescence will take place across Nilfar Depot's huge atrium. Curated by Studio Vedet, it features Greek studio Objects of Common Interest. Seats, tables, lamps, and vases whose materiality is accentuated by lines and geometries. These are juxtapositions and combinations of solids, and a dialogue between curves and sharp angles.
Alcova
Milan Design Week's Alcova is an annual event that showcases a curated exhibition of contemporary design in a historical location. The exhibition takes place in an abandoned industrial space or villa, which is transformed into a temporary gallery for the duration of the event. Alcova focuses on emerging designers and experimental projects. It attracts visitors from around the world who are interested in the latest trends and innovations in design. This year, Alcova moves to the former Porta Vittoria abbatoir.
Assembling the Future Together, IKEA
Unsurprisingly, IKEA is usually a key player at Milan Design Week. The furniture giant will this year head to Tortona, creating an exhibition that looks across its 80-year history, while presenting ideas for the future. Throughout the day, exhibitions offer visitors plenty to look at and learn. At night, the space transforms into a music venue complete with a full program of artists.
Nothing Happens if Nothing Happens, Isola Design Festival
'Nothing Happens if Nothing Happens' is the theme of the Isola Design Festival this year. The festival brings together designers and studios to rethink, regenerate, and move beyond sustainable design thinking. As a result of a collaboration between Elif Resitoglu, Isola's creative director, and Stephanie Blanchard, cofounder of IAMMI Studio, the landscape space will transport visitors to a gypsum landscape.
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