Presented by Webuild and supported by the John and Rose Downer Foundation and Italian Australian Foundation, Molto Bello: Icons of Modern Italian Design celebrates the innovation and impact of 20th-century Italian design. Curated across Heide’s multiple galleries, the exhibition showcases over 170 iconic designs sourced from public and private collections in Australia, spanning from the 1930s Milan Design Triennale to the postmodernist Memphis Group of the 1980s. This exhibit features the work of celebrated Italian designers such as Gae Aulenti, Carlo Mollino, Joe Colombo, Nanda Vigo, the Castiglioni brothers and Ettore Sottsass, also featuring a dedicated gallery celebrating visionary designer Gaetano Pesce.

Melbourne-based Studio Peter King designed the exhibition space in the main galleries, drawing on classic architectural motifs to guide visitors through the timeline of Italian design’s most impactful movements. In Heide Modern, rare and recognisable pieces from the 1960s and 1970s are displayed, such as the Cassina Superleggera chair designed by Gio Ponti, the iconic Vespa GS 150 and Joe Colombo’s Elda armchair. “These pieces represent a period of dynamic innovation, each one mirroring Italy’s shifting social and cultural landscape,” Head Curator Kendrah Morgan reflects, highlighting how Italy’s rich craftsmanship, technological advances, and unwavering creativity has influenced global design. 

The exhibition is on display from 26 October 2024 to 23 March 2025.