FRAGILE, the historic Milanese design gallery renowned for its in-depth exploration of twentieth‑century design, unveils Property of Sergio Asti. A Design Heritage, a comprehensive survey of the versatile and influential work of Sergio Asti, an architect and designer who helped shape Milan’s design landscape in the second half of the twentieth century.
This landmark show traces Asti’s prolific career, spanning from furniture and lighting to ceramics, automotive collaborations, exhibitions, and architectural projects. Notable works highlighted in the exhibition include: the Profiterolle lamp for Martinelli Luce (1968), the Marco vase for Salviati (winner of the Compasso d’Oro in 1962), the Trifoglio table for Poltronova (1969), the Sixties vases for Vistosi, and the Demodé vase for Venini. These pieces illustrate a designer who operated as a total concept author, whose portfolio encompasses an extraordinary breadth—from tableware to illumination, from interiors to industrial design.
The show also situates Asti within Milan’s vibrant postwar cultural milieu, connecting him with figures such as Ettore Sottsass and underscoring his methodical, quality‑driven approach to design. Asti’s practice extended beyond Italy to international projects, including teaching and collaboration in Japan, and his career was marked by a tireless pursuit of craft, materiality, and functional beauty.
In conjunction with the exhibition, FRAGILE will publish a monograph on Sergio Asti, released by Silvana Editoriale. The volume, prepared with substantial research and cataloging support from Rosa Chiesa and Alessandro Zannoni, features contributions from Alba Cappellieri (Professor of Design at Politecnico di Milano) and the ASAC (Archivio Storico delle Arti Contemporanee della Biennale di Venezia), which preserves Asti’s extensive archive.
Property of Sergio Asti. A Design Heritage continues FRAGILE’s ongoing curatorial project to reframe and elevate key authors who, while shaping collective taste and imagination, have yet to receive their full due. Following recent initiatives—ANNI LUCE. ARREDOLUCE. 100 LAMPADE (MDW 2024) and HANDLE WITH CARE. CARLO NASON GLASS DESIGNER (MDW 2025)—this exhibition reaffirms FRAGILE’s commitment to presenting authoritative retrospectives that contextualize design history within a broader cultural narrative.
Photo credits: Milano Design Week
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