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Curated by founder Nina Yashar, Nilufar presents Repertorio for Milan Design Week 2025—an immersive experience where scenography meets theatrical narrative. The expansive design exhibition unfolds across the gallery’s dual venues in Milan, Italy—Viale Lancetti 34 (from April 7) and Via della Spiga 32 (from April 8)—in five acts, each exploring dualities: tradition vs. innovation, the organic vs. the constructed and utility vs. art.
ACT I – SILVER LINING
Marking a decade since Nilufar Depot opened, Silver Lining launches the exhibition in its main space at Viale Lancetti. Co-curated with Fosbury Architecture, this installation pays homage to metal—honouring its strength, memory and malleability. The display at the design festival juxtaposes 1970s design classics with contemporary pieces, including works by Audrey Large, Supaform, studioutte and Flavie Audi, among others, presented alongside works by Destroyers / Builders, Wendy Andreu & Bram Vanderbeke, Odd Matter, Irene Goldberg and Michael Schoner as well as a selection of vintage designs from the likes of Gio Ponti, Marzio Cecchi, Pietro Chiesa, Gino Colombini and Guzzetti, Gabriella Crespi, Giorgio Montani, Mario Bellini, Walter Moretti and Nanda Vigo. Key partnerships include Almeco for its metallic surfaces and Lanificio Becagli for fur-inspired upholstery.
"From the very beginning of my research, metals—especially aluminium—have held immense power. In their raw state, they symbolise strength and resilience, yet through the hands of skilled artisans, they become delicate and malleable, transforming into something infinitely expressive. Metal has been a recurring element in my research, and for this year’s anniversary exhibition, I decided to curate a selection that challenges the possibilities of this material. With its inherently appealing and captivating nature, it represents the new gold to me,” explains Yashar.
ACT II – AMBER ECHOES
Located in the adjacent ground-floor space, Amber Echoes offers an intimate, luminous environment that "evokes stories transcend[ing] time and cultures". The exhibition features evocative sculptural works by Christian Pellizzari and refined metal pieces by Shlomo Harush, alongside timeless contemporary designs by Willy Rizzo, Zanine Caldas, Karl Springer, and Maria Pergay, their works offering "a contemplative exploration of art, nature and the human psyche," according to the Milan-based gallery known for its visionary curation and pioneering embrace of collectible design.
Pellizzari’s Rye Ergot glass sculptures evoke mysticism through suspended Murano glass, exploring altered states, transcendence and the fragile beauty of the human mind. Meanwhile, Harush’s copper and brass sculptural art pieces blur art and objects, inviting touch and reflection. Highlights from Please Do Not Sit reveal shifting forms shaped by light and thought.
CHORAL INTERLUDES
Interspersed throughout the Depot are curated 'choral interludes'—individual expressions from designers whose work dialogues with Repertorio’s overarching themes. These include Joe Armitage, Joy Herro, Roberto Sironi and Vikram Goyal, contributing new creations that weave together different design epochs. Each presentation reveals new work, offering a singular perspective on contemporary design.
Some solo presentations include Allegra Hicks’ Napoli Future Nostalgia, a new collection inspired by Naples’ layered history and spirit and showcased on Nilufar Depot’s first floor. Using bronze crochet, she transforms soft forms into enduring, sculptural objects.
Highlights include the Conchiglia di mare console, the Golfo low tables, the Poppea chaise longue and the Narciso and Echo mirrors.
With Faraglioni e Grottesche, Etereo, a collective of architects, artists and designers based between Dubai and Milan, returns to Nilufar with a theatrical immersive installation blending design and nature. Faraglioni is a limited-edition collection of bronze and glass pieces that evoke the majestic sea stacks of Capri through fluid, wave-like forms, while Grottesche is a refined series of marble mirrors that amplify space and atmosphere, drawing inspiration from baroque ornamentation and natural grottoes.
Objects of Common Interest debuts Lucid Dreamscape at Nilufar, a surreal, cinematic installation exploring material, colour and form. Red resin pieces and glowing opalescent works such as the Lucid Dreamscape console, oval wall light and coffee table invite visitors into a dreamlike world of conscious abstraction.
Joe Armitage debuts The Cycad Collection at the design fair, a series of lamp designs that capture the essence of exotic plant life. Crafted in walnut, brass and recycled PET, the sculptural design collection comprising a chandelier, a floor lamp and single and double sconces invites a sense of discovery, much like exploring a lush greenhouse after dark.
Gal Gaon’s Heaven collection, including the Aglaea and Thalia stainless steel sculptures, the Zeus pendant sculpture, the Torii desk and the Waterfall Meditating sofa, reimagines the office as a celestial sanctuary, blending myth, sculpture and surreal design.
Filippo Carandini presents Muse, a collection of sand-cast bronze furniture designs inspired by celestial bodies and ancient instruments. Each handcrafted piece blends raw textures with symbolic forms, inviting a cosmic dialogue between past and present.
StudioDanielK debuts Esquisses, Jóia and Copan, blending sculptural design with jewellery-inspired elegance. Crafted from copper, quartz, precious woods and stones, these collections celebrate materiality through timeless, heirloom-like furniture and lighting designs.
ACT III – NILUFAR EDITION
On the Depot’s second floor, Nilufar Edition—curated by Yashar with Andrea Mancuso—presents Nilufar’s newest creations. This section reimagines living spaces as evolving expressions of identity and design experimentation. Nilufar Edition is Yashar’s latest endeavour, which bridges contemporary design with artisanal traditions, fostering unique and joyful expressions of form.
"After years of collaboration with Mancuso, it’s wonderful to finally work together on the Nilufar Edition set-up for Milan Design Week. His idea of dividing the living space into sections with fictional architectural elements truly brought the space to life, creating a ‘home’ feel that resonates throughout," says Yashar.
INTERLUDE – MÉTAPHORES x NILUFAR
In a special outdoor moment, Edges—a collaboration with French textile house Métaphores—wraps the Locus Solus collection by Gae Aulenti in innovative outdoor fabrics. This Italian–French dialogue reimagines outdoor living through timeless design, sensory materials and the spirit of travel.
ACT IV – CONTRASTS
Via della Spiga hosts Contrasts, a deeply personal curation by Yashar that reflects her multifaceted vision. It celebrates design as an enduring ethical and aesthetic pursuit, merging ancient Eastern artifacts with iconic pieces by Italian and Brazilian masters, forming a rich sensory tapestry.
ACT V – EX TERRĀ
At Nilufar’s Via Senato space, the final act explores the interplay between nature and design. Featuring works by Andrea Mancuso, Maximilian Marchesani and Etienne Marc, with curated selections by Filippo Pecora, Ex Terrā delves into the raw beauty and resilience of organic materials.
Keep up with STIR's coverage of Milan Design Week 2025, where we spotlight the most compelling exhibitions, presentations and installations from top studios, designers and brands. Dive into the highlights of Euroluce 2025 and explore all the design districts—Fuorisalone, 5Vie, Brera, Isola, Durini and beyond—alongside the faceted programme of Salone del Mobile.Milano this year.
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