286 espresso cups transformed by some of the world’s most renowned artists
16th June - 17th September 2010
5 city tour: London, Brighton, Cardiff, Birmingham & Manchester
A three month exhibition, twenty years in the making and conceived to combine the aesthetic pleasure of art with the sensory pleasure of coffee, will make its UK debut this June.
“Strada presents the illy Art Collection”, featuring 286 espresso coffee cups interpreted by some of the greatest artists of our generation, including Jeff Koons, Robert Rauschenberg and Marina Abramovic, aims to transform the everyday act of drinking a cup of coffee into an experience involving all the senses.
The exhibition – part of Strada’s 10th birthday celebrations – blends illy’s passion for all things beautiful and its appreciation of modern art.
The Collection also includes cup designs from some of the most influential contributors to film and music.
Works by Francis Ford Coppola, David Byrne, Federico Fellini and Pedro Almódovar will also be showcased.
The Collection though is not just about ‘famous names’.
Over the past 20 years illy has also collaborated with lesser known artists and students from all over the world to give them an opportunity to express themselves through its porcelain cups.
The illy Art Collection began when the company changed the design of its espresso cup in 1990.
Ernesto Illy wanted to create a new, exclusively shaped, cup that could also stand on its own as a work of art.
He contacted the designer and architect Matteo Thun to design it and the “illy” espresso cup, as a signature piece, was born.
Twenty years on and the exclusively shaped cup is now used in more than 50,000 of the best restaurants and coffee bars in the world, including the Strada restaurants hosting the UK exhibition.
The restaurant group has served illy alongside its contemporary Italian food since it opened its first restaurant a decade ago.
The illy Art Collection cups, all signed, numbered and produced in limited editions, are coveted by art lovers and coffee lovers alike.
Rare cups, such as those initially made by Thun in 1990, can fetch as much as £2,500 in private sale.
Carlo Bach, artistic director at illycaffè, says:
“With each espresso cup, we are creating a piece of art that can be viewed, touched and cradled in the hand.
“The Collection elevates and enhances our everyday coffee experience.
“It illustrates our passion for all things beautiful and well-made.”
“Strada presents the illy Art Collection” runs from 16th June – 17th September 2010 at Strada restaurants across the UK and is free of charge.
Known for its great Italian food and stylish, contemporary surroundings, Strada will offer the prefect backdrop for this showcase.
The exhibition is open seven days a week from 11.30 am until 10.30 pm.
Visit www.strada.co.uk for further details.
