NEW YORK, U.S. — illycaffè, global leader in the high-quality coffee sector, introduces its newest illy Art Collection cups entitled “Coffee Drawings” by artist Max Petrone.
Since 1992, some of the most prominent contemporary masters on the international art scene as well as emerging young talents have participated in the revered illy Art Collection, transforming the everyday coffee cup into a cult object.
Massimiliano “Max” Petrone, born in Turin, Italy in 1983, is one of the most innovative figures in contemporary Italian painting.
The artist is known for bringing together a variety of techniques and constantly experimenting with new styles using oil paint, spray cans and acrylics. Petrone’s work also extends to graphics, video and a reconsideration of design objects.
Following his success from wildly viewed online videos of coffee illustrations, he first began his collaboration with illy at Milan Expo in 2015 via an interactive live graffiti painting at the Coffee Cluster.
This performance inspired the new illy Art Collection which features coffee animations with a graffiti touch, typical of underground comics.
One of the cups in the collection depicts an astronaut floating, space ship and moon scape serving as an invitation to a narrative that invites coffee lovers to explore the Universe, where we often discover that our everyday reality is made of things that are truly incredible.
The new collection
This new collection will be presented for the first time during Milan Design Week and also during the Specialty Coffee Association’s annual Expo in Seattle, where Andrea Illy, coffee authority, author, and chairman of illycaffè will give a talk on coffee economics.
To mark the launch, Petrone is showcasing a live performance of “Coffee Drawings” through an artist workshop at the Triennale di Milano from April 17-22.
Coffee Drawings
Using an iconic illy cup designed by Matteo Thun in 1991, “Coffee Drawings” tells six stories, based on adventurous research, casual encounters and in-depth observation. Among lunar landscapes, fantastic creatures and raging waves, the new illy Art Collection is tinged with the typical burnished shades of coffee.
The Max Petrone illy Art Collection is available now in a set of six cappuccino cups ($170), set of six espresso cups ($140), set of two mugs ($55), set of two cappuccino cups ($55), set of two espresso cups ($50), and a single espresso cup ($40). The collection can be purchased at illy caffè bars and shops and online at www.illy.com.
In 2016 the company was employing 1,269 people, and posted consolidated revenues of €460 million. There are approximately 230 stores and mono-brand illy shops in 43 countries.
