Illycaffè introduces the special illy Art Collection signed by Ron Arad and dedicated to the 53rd Barcolana sailing regatta

Trieste, October 2021 – In keeping with tradition, on the occasion of the 53rd Barcolana sailing regatta, the iconic espresso cup designed by Matteo Thun for illy in 1991 becomes a canvas to be decorated by the most important contemporary artists. For this year's edition, illycaffè has chosen the Israeli artist and designer Ron Arad, whose work is on display in the world’s leading art collections – the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and London’s Victoria & Albert Museum among others – who drew inspiration from the 53rd Barcolana’s motto, “The New Routes”, to create his own version of the iconic cup.

The new illy Art Collection Barcolana features a minimalistic style, whose essential, sinuous lines give life to the very essence of the regatta itself: the sea, the boats, and their sails. In Ron Arad’s cup, sailing takes on new forms, thanks in part to his decision to choose a type of brush that can reproduce traditional painting techniques in the digital medium. Through lines, colours, and images that evoke nautical charts and maps, we are invited on a journey along new and uncharted routes.

“In this illy Art Collection Ron Arad gives our cup the spirit of freedom and innovation that permeates the 53rd Barcolana. We are proud to renew our partnership with the city of Trieste’s flagship event, and to dedicate this new illy Art Collection to it. It encourages us not to be afraid of the challenges that await us and motivates us to embark on new routes on blue seas and under clear skies. A message of hope and confidence that we are glad to offer everyone through a great cup of coffee” says Massimiliano Pogliani, CEO of illycaffè.

Ron Arad’s illy Art Collection espresso cup will be available starting October 1st at the suggested retail price of € 25 from illy single-brand sales outlets (Cafè and Shop) and the e-shop www.illy.com.