Radical

14 Feb — 26 Apr 2020 at The Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, United States

19 February 2020

Studio 65, manufactured by Gufram©, Capitello, designed 1971, made c. 1972–78, polyurethane foam and Guflac®, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Dennis Freedman Collection, gift of Dennis Freedman. © 1971 Studio 65m / Brad Bridgers, photographer

A disco Parthenon has landed at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

(Houston Chronicle)

This exhibition examines Italy’s postwar explosion of disruptive design. Radical: Italian Design 1965–1985 presents furniture, lighting design, architectural models, paintings, and other objects drawn from the landmark collection of Dennis Freedman.

The first U.S. museum exhibition in nearly 50 years to survey this pivotal movement in design history, Radical: Italian Design showcases prototypes, one-of-a-kind, and limited-edition works by architects, designers, and collectives such as Archizoom Associati, Lapo Binazzi, Ugo La Pietra, Alessandro Mendini, Gianni Pettena, Ettore Sottsass, Studio Alchimia, and Superstudio.

Of the works on view, about half are gifts of Dennis Freedman and half are acquisitions from his collection. In addition, Freedman has lent more than a dozen objects to the exhibition. Together, the gifts and acquisitions establish a foundational collection for the MFAH.

The Museum of Fine Arts

The MFAH is the largest cultural institution in the southwest region. The Museum’s main campus is located in the heart of Houston’s Museum District, and comprises the Audrey Jones Beck Building, the Caroline Wiess Law Building, the Glassell School of Art, and the Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden.

Museum profile

Location

Houston, United States

Founded in

1900

Urano Palma, Armchair, from the Diapositive series, c. 1970–74, wood, possibly silk, and foam, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Dennis Freedman Collection, Museum purchase funded by the Caroline Wiess Law Accessions Endowment Fund / Kent Pell, photographer

Studio65, “Chiocciola” Chair, designed 1972, made 1973, polyurethane foam and upholstery, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Dennis Freedman Collection, gift of Dennis Freedman. © 1972 Studio65 / Kent Pell, photographer

Alessandro Mendini, Monumentino da Casa, 1974, wood and Formica, the Dennis Freedman Collection. © 1974 Estate of Alessandro Mendini / Kent Pell, photographer

Urano Palma, Armchair, from the Diapositive series, c. 1970–74, wood, possibly silk, and foam, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Dennis Freedman Collection, Museum purchase funded by the Caroline Wiess Law Accessions Endowment Fund / Kent Pell, photographer
Studio65, “Chiocciola” Chair, designed 1972, made 1973, polyurethane foam and upholstery, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Dennis Freedman Collection, gift of Dennis Freedman. © 1972 Studio65 / Kent Pell, photographer
Alessandro Mendini, Monumentino da Casa, 1974, wood and Formica, the Dennis Freedman Collection. © 1974 Estate of Alessandro Mendini / Kent Pell, photographer

Studio65, “Chiocciola” Chair, designed 1972, made 1973, polyurethane foam and upholstery, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Dennis Freedman Collection, gift of Dennis Freedman. © 1972 Studio65 / Kent Pell, photographer
Alessandro Mendini, Monumentino da Casa, 1974, wood and Formica, the Dennis Freedman Collection. © 1974 Estate of Alessandro Mendini / Kent Pell, photographer
Urano Palma, Armchair, from the Diapositive series, c. 1970–74, wood, possibly silk, and foam, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Dennis Freedman Collection, Museum purchase funded by the Caroline Wiess Law Accessions Endowment Fund / Kent Pell, photographer