Enzo Mari Exhibition Highlights

Enzo Mari (Cerano, Novara, 1932 – Milano, 2020) attended the Accademia di Brera in Milan, initially operating in the field of Programmed Art then, from 1956 onwards, devoting himself to industrial design as well as experimenting with new materials.

He promoted the international art movement Nuove Tendenze.

In the 1960s, he revolutionised the concept of design through objects intended for “ordinary people”, previously excluded from a sector considered elitist.

This gave rise to creations standing the test of time, untrammelled by trends, whose significance lies not only in prolonged, continuous research but also in the quality of their forms.

Mari has always considered human needs outside of market conditioning. His work embraces his creations as an artist, designer, and theorist; he is also the author of fifteen explanatory and political books.

His works are in the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Galleria d’Arte Moderna, Rome; Musee des Arts decoratifs, Palais du Louvre, Paris; Centre d’Art Santa Monica, Barcelona;

but also of the Kaiser Wilhelm Museum, Krefeld, and Gallery of Modern Art, Zagreb, as well as in other public and private collections.

He has taught in several Italian universities as well as in Vienna and Berlin.

Mari was awarded the Compasso d’Oro on five occasions: the first time was in 1967 for “individual design research” while the last was in 2011 in recognition of his career.

In 2014, he received the Ambrogino d’Oro, the highest distinction awarded by the City of Milan

In 2000, the Politecnico di Milano conferred on him an honorary degree in Industrial Design, and in 2015, the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera awarded him an honorary academic diploma in the visual arts along with the title of Accademico d’Italia.