In Lucca, the "Made in Italy" That Conquered America: A Postwar Creative Renaissance on Display

From April 5 to June 29, 2025, the Ragghianti Foundation in Lucca will host the exhibition Made in Italy. Destinazione America 1945–1954, a major cultural event that retraces the extraordinary journey of Italian creativity in the aftermath of World War II. Presented at the Complesso di San Micheletto, the exhibition shines a spotlight on a transformative decade when Italian art, design, fashion, and craftsmanship gained international recognition—particularly in the United States.

Curated by Paola Cordera and Davide Turrini, and supported by the Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Lucca, the exhibition draws inspiration from the historic Italy at Work exhibition that toured the U.S. between 1950 and 1953, promoting Italian craftsmanship abroad. Over seventy years later, Lucca becomes the new starting point for revisiting this pivotal moment in cultural diplomacy and creative innovation.

The exhibition is held under the patronage of numerous Italian and American institutions, including the Region of Tuscany, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the U.S. Consulate in Florence, and the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy.

On display are iconic objects and works from postwar Italy—Venini glass, ceramics by Gio Ponti and Lucio Fontana, footwear by Salvatore Ferragamo, alongside paintings, sculptures, set designs, and graphic works—all tracing the rise of the "Made in Italy" brand as a global emblem of quality, style, and innovation.

The exhibition is divided into four thematic sections:

• The House of Italian Craftsmanship explores the roles of CADMA and HDI in promoting Italian products in the U.S., with special attention to Carlo Ludovico Ragghianti’s contributions.

• Viaggio in Italia documents the preparation for Italy at Work, including visits to regional manufacturers.

• Living Italian Style reconstructs key interiors from the American exhibition, featuring designs by Gio Ponti, Carlo Mollino, and Piero Fornasetti.

• New Forms and New Routes examines how Italian design evolved in the U.S. market after the initial exhibitions, revealing both continuities and shifts in its global narrative.

The exhibition also offers historical insight into the postwar transatlantic dialogue shaped by the Marshall Plan and the Cold War. Institutions like CADMA and Handicraft Development Inc. helped establish Italian design in prestigious American venues such as Macy’s and Kaufmann’s, showcasing a renewed national identity built on craftsmanship and innovation.

Designed by Uliva Velo, the exhibition is accompanied by a comprehensive catalogue featuring essays by leading scholars including Paolo Bolpagni, Paola Cordera, Sandra Costa, Davide Turrini, Alessandra Vaccari, and others. The international scientific committee includes experts such as Raffaele Bedarida, Marianne Lamonaca, Salvador Salort-Pons, and Lucia Savi.

Made in Italy. Destinazione America 1945–1954 offers more than a retrospective; it is a tribute to a pivotal era when Italy reinvented itself through creativity and collaboration. It tells the story of a country that, through art, design, and vision, turned its traditions into a powerful vehicle for cultural and economic rebirth—an Italy that still inspires today.

Source: finestresullarte.info