Cleto Munari, one of the leading figures in Italian design, has passed away at the age of 96

Cleto Munari, an Italian designer and entrepreneur born in Gorizia who had lived for many years in Brendola, in the province of Vicenza, has died at the age of 96. A leading figure in Italian design of the second half of the 20th century, he leaves behind a creative legacy that has transcended national borders, with works now held in over one hundred museums and cultural institutions around the world.

The encounter that marked a turning point in his professional life took place in 1973, when he met Carlo Scarpa. That relationship gave rise to a deep friendship and an intellectual partnership that helped definitively steer Munari toward the world of design. Shortly thereafter, he founded Cleto Munari Design Associati, a firm that over the years would become a hub for collaboration among internationally renowned designers, architects, and artists.

Between the 1970s and 1980s, Munari engaged in intensive stylistic research, experimenting with new forms of expression and collaborating with some of the most influential figures in contemporary design. Alongside Carlo Scarpa, figures such as Ettore Sottsass, Gio Ponti, Vico Magistretti, and Achille Castiglioni played a decisive role. It was precisely his dialogue with Scarpa and Sottsass that instilled in him that particular aesthetic sensibility that would characterize his entire body of work. Over time, collaboration with international artists and designers became a cornerstone of the company’s philosophy and contributed to the creation of objects that combined functionality, experimentation, and formal refinement.

Particularly prized were the pieces crafted in gold and silver, which became symbols of his aesthetic vision. Many of his works have been included in the permanent collections of major international museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

With the passing of Cleto Munari, one of the leading figures of Italian design has left us, but he leaves behind a legacy that lives on in his creations and in the museums that house them.

Cleto Munari, one of the leading figures in Italian design, has passed away at the age of 96

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