This New York Townhouse Has Been Filled With Italian Radical Design

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A New York exhibition is showcasing three iconic Italian brands known for their innovative and unconventional designs, marking the first time they’ve been presented together in the US.

During NYCXDesign, the influential Italian design group – including Memphis, Gufram, and Meritalia – is showcasing its work at Kalei NYC in Manhattan’s Bowery neighborhood.

The exhibition showcases famous designs from Gufram, Memphis, and other brands across three floors, including pieces like the Cactus chair and the Carlton bookcase. The designers intentionally mixed everything together to give visitors a complete look at the Italian Radical Design Movement, presenting it as a unified cultural expression rather than just a collection of different brands.

The show arrives as interest in Radical Design – a design movement from Italy in the 1960s and 70s – is growing with a new audience. The curators explain that this resurgence highlights how Radical Design still challenges us to rethink our relationship with everyday objects.






The exhibition prominently features the work of Gaetano Pesce, a New York-based designer who passed away in 2024. As a tribute to Pesce’s long-standing impact on the Meritalia brand, they are re-releasing his “Broadway” dining set. This limited edition collection—only 33 sets will be made—includes a dining table, four standard chairs, one stool, and a unique nine-legged chair, all available in orange and blue color combinations.

I recently came across this crazy chair design originally from 1993, and it’s seriously one of the most unique things I’ve seen. The designers say it’s a real statement about how we think about homes. It’s called the 543 Broadway Chair, and it totally throws out the idea of everything being perfectly uniform. Instead of cold, industrial metal, it’s made from this wild, colorful, clear epoxy resin. Each chair isn’t just made – it feels like a one-of-a-kind piece of art, not something mass-produced. It’s really cool!

Italian Radical Design group is on view at Kalei NYC from 15 May to late June 2026.

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2026-05-14 18:26