In 2015, renowned jewelry designer Ippolita Rostagno and Marco Credendino founded Artemest, the first e-commerce for luxury Made in Italy craftsmanship. The site brings the best Italian design in the categories of home decor, furniture, lighting, lifestyle, and jewelry to an international audience of art enthusiasts and beauty connoisseurs. Now, with the Artemest SoHo pop-up exhibition the prestigious virtual vendor aims to combine physical and digital retail exploring offline retail with a customer-centric approach that even includes with live on-site crafts demonstrations.
The unique showcase of Italian artisanship tells an inspiring story of design in a gallery setting. Entering the Artemest pop-up, visitors are guided by culture ambassadors that illustrate the history of each product, as well as artisanal techniques and heritage. The discovery of the most eclectic aspect of Italian craftsmanship is further favored by the organization in curated corners, each with their individual aesthetic.
Among the pieces on show, there are Murano glass mirrors by Ongaro & Fuga, wooden creations by cabinetmaker Giuseppe Rivadossi, contemporary tables by Durame, metallic furnishings and decor by Antonino Sciortino, eclectic ceramics by Lorenzo Franceschinis, and hand-painted wallpapers by Misha Wallpaper. It is also possible to admire ‘The Road to Heaven is Paved with Excess,‘ an elegant series of plates inspired by the verses of William Blake that is the result of the newly established collaboration between Artemest and Richard Ginori.
“At the heart of our mission is the desire to share the poignant emotion of beauty as expressed through the hand of a craftsman,” says Ippolita Rostagno, founder of Artemest. “These artists need advocacy, and we have created a platform to showcase and sell their exceptional work. Italians have a charming way of conflating age-old techniques with whimsical spirit and executing everyday objects with a reverence for materials that is truly thrilling.”
Ilona Catani Scarlett