The exhibition draws inspiration from one of the most original episodes in 20th-century design history: the meeting between two giants of contemporary creativity: the visionary Karl Lagerfeld and Memphis, founded by Ettore Sottsass. In the early 1980s, Lagerfeld moved to Monte Carlo. Dissatisfied with an ordinary home, Lagerfeld decided to furnish the apartment exclusively with Memphis pieces. The exhibition aims to recreate, as faithfully as possible, the atmosphere of Lagerfeld\u2019s iconic apartment inside Almine Rech Monaco. In collaboration with Memphis, all the pieces originally present in Lagerfeld\u2019s residence are displayed within the exhibition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Francesco Vezzoli has created eight new works for this exhibition: embroidered portraits of Lagerfeld, displayed in opulent baroque frames. These \u201cemotive\u201d works, inspired by Lagerfeld\u2019s photographs from that early period, offer a rare perspective on his most authentic and spontaneous self. To further enrich the exhibition, a catalog designed by the renowned graphic duo Mathias Augustyniak and Michael Amzalag of M\/M (Paris) completes the show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor Memphis, this project marks the closing of a circle, which began in Monte Carlo and now returns there. [\u2026] With his unique and disruptive style, Vezzoli captures the eternal spirit of Memphis, reinterpreting a fundamental chapter of its history, remaining true to the boldness and creativity that characterize the works of Sottsass and the other members of the group.\u201d \u2013 Charley Vezza, CEO of Memphis.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The exhibition in Munich takes us back to the 1980s, in an iconic episode of history Francesco Vezzoli presents: KARL GOES TO MEMPHIS. Tribute to a historic encounter in Monte Carlo” is the new solo exhibition by Francesco Vezzoli at the Almine Rech Monaco gallery, scheduled from March 20 to May 24, 2025. The exhibition […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":39132,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[325,328,330,333],"tags":[1231,948,1229,1230,1232],"class_list":["post-39149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-architecture","category-design","category-exhibitions","category-news","tag-ettore-sottsass-2","tag-featured","tag-francesco-vezzoli","tag-karl-lagerfield","tag-monaco"],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/designdiffusion.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Francesco-Vezzoli-presents-KARL-GOES-TO-MEMPHIS-1024x768.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAn extraordinary space<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The works on display include masterpieces from Memphis, such as Ettore Sottsass\u2019s Carlton bookshelf, Masanori Umeda\u2019s Tawaraya Ring, Martine Bedin\u2019s Super lamp, George J. Sowden\u2019s Pierre table, Michele De Lucchi\u2019s First chair and Oceanic table lamp, Peter Shire\u2019s Brazil table, Javier Mariscal\u2019s Hilton trolley, Thomas Bley\u2019s Astor table lamp, Marco Zanini\u2019s Dublin sofa, Michael Graves\u2019s Plaza \u201cskyscraper for interiors,\u201d Andrea Branzi\u2019s Labrador gravy boat, and more. After many years, iconic Memphis pieces also return, including Matteo Thun\u2019s Sacher wardrobe, Javier Mariscal\u2019s Colon coffee table, George J. Sowden\u2019s Acapulco clock, and Oberoj armchair, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in one of the most eccentric and creative visions of 1980s design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n