illy Art Collections
A world of contemporary art on a cup
illy Art Collections are the famous sets of truly special coffee interpreted by great contemporary artists to elevate and enhance the illy coffee experience.
illy's passion for the beautiful and well-made, its love for the world of contemporary art and its exceptionally high quality are the driving passions behind the illy Art Collections. They serve to increase the enjoyment of coffee by joining it with the aesthetic beauty of a work of art on a commonplace object, the cup.
Since the first collection was launched in 1992, illy’s signature china cup designed by Matteo Thun has been the canvas for more than 70 of the greatest artists on the international contemporary art scene, from Michelangelo Pistoletto, Marina Abramovic, Sandro Chia, Louise Bourgeois and Julian Schnabel, to Robert Rauschenberg, Jeff Koons, Joseph Kosuth and James Rosenquist.
And in addition to established artists, illy Art Collections have also been a platform for emerging young talents worldwide. The legendary filmmakers Federico Fellini and Francis Ford Coppola and musician David Byrne have also been among those who have been inspired by illy and contributed original designs to the collection.
As the number of cups and collections increases, so do relationships and dialogues grow: first between artists and illycaffè in a collaboration which often extends to other media and spaces such as museums, exhibitions, books and events. And secondly, between artists and the public as art extends beyond the art galleries to enhance the coffee break.
Prized by collectors the world over, the illy Art Collections are signed, numbered and produced in limited editions. An average of two collections are produced each year, with occasional very limited runs of special cups marking significant events.