illy Caffè Launches illy Art Collection with Ron Arad

The Ron Arad illy Art Collection was inspired by the spontaneous interaction of light silk fabric draping randomly on a cup and saucer. This inspiration resulted in a design that is both realistic and abstract, a reference to something functional, but without actually being functional. With the use of sinuous lines, this design combines Ron Arad's desire and everything that materials can offer. The cup collection features six abstract designs representative of Arad's contemporary design style, available in sets of six espresso cups, two espresso cups, six cappuccino cups and two cappuccino cups.

Ron Arad is a Tel Aviv born architect and designer known for his experimentation with materials, forms, and structures. His design work can be found in a variety of museums and gallery collections across the world including Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, and the Vera Design Museum in Germany and architectural projects include the Tel Aviv Opera house, Belgo restaurants in London, the development of a project for a Sport Café with cutting edge interactive audio and video technology for Adidas and Kronenbourg – a high-tech private residence in London. Ron Arad's designs have been selected for the new Adidas Stadium in Paris, as well as the Maserati showroom in Modena.

A preview of the Ron Arad illy Art Collection took place in Milan at the Salone del Mobile from April 4-9 alongside his installation in the Courtyard of Honour of the State University of Milan. The Ron Arad illy Art Collection cups are available for purchase online at www.illyusa.com and at illy caffè coffee bars and shops.

Pricing:  
6 espresso cups: $150 
2 espresso cups: $55 
6 cappuccino cups: $175 
2 cappuccino cups: $60

About the illy Art Collection 
The illy Art Collection, a series of coffee cups by artists that the Trieste-based company has produced since 1992, is the clearest expression of the illycaffé connection to contemporary art. Some of the most prominent contemporary masters on the international art scene, along with emerging young talents, have transformed the everyday coffee cup – in this case the white porcelain lily cup introduced by the architect and designer Matteo Thun – into a cult object. From Michelangelo Pistoletto to Marina Abramović, Anish Kapoor to Daniel Buren, Robert Rauschenberg to Jeff Koons, Jan Fabre to James Rosenquist, Jannis Kounellis to Julian Schnabel, Louise Bourgeois to William Kentridge, more than 70 contemporary artists so far have contributed designs for the collection and formed close collaborative relationships with illy that develop along with their own artistic and cultural projects. The illy Art Collection, signed, limited and numbered, is on sale all over the world, in cafés, stores that distribute illy products and at www.illy.com. Once they sell out, the items are not reproduced.

About illycaffè 
illycaffè is an Italian family business, founded in Trieste in 1933 and committed to offer the greatest coffee to the world. illy is the world's most global coffee brand, producing the unique illy 100% Arabica blend made of 9 of the world best Arabica, served in more than 7 million cups in over 140 countries in the finest cafés, restaurants and hotels. As a leader in the science and technology of coffee - with three radical innovations - illy is the forerunner of espresso. With the first Brazilian award for the best coffee quality for espresso in 1991, illy also pioneered direct sourcing, sharing know-how and paying a premium price for the best quality, based on partnerships underpinned by the principles of sustainable development. The company also set up and runs the University of Coffee with the aim to foster and spread its culture, providing comprehensive academic and hands-on training for coffee growers, baristas and coffee lovers to cover every aspect of the product. Everything 'made in illy' is enhanced by beauty & art, which represent founding values of the brand, starting from its logo – designed by an artist, James Rosenquist – and including the renowned illy Art Collection, comprised of over 100 cups designed by international artists. In 2015 the company was employing 1,177 people, and posted consolidated revenues of €437 million. The stores and mono-brand illy shops are about 230 in 43 Countries.

Press Contact 
Alison Brod Marketing + Communications  
[email protected]

SOURCE illycaffe

Related Links

http://www.illyusa.com