Expo '26 opens in Melbourne: Celebrating materiality, process and artisanship

Wednesday 4 March marked the opening of Expo ’26, a major curated exhibition presented by Artedomus, which invites visitors to step closer, to observe, consider and engage with evolving ideas in materiality, process and craft.

Expo ’26 is open by appointment in Melbourne, book here.

Set within the Artedomus Galleria, our newest destination located in Flemington, Expo ’26 surprised and delighted guests in equal measure. Moving beyond the conventions of a traditional showroom, the Galleria is conceived as a dedicated space for installations, events and immersive experiences, allowing products to be encountered in a more dynamic and spatial context.

Expo ’26 brings together highlights from Artedomus’ collection, presenting a selection of artisanal objects, innovative products, and exquisite surfaces from brands including Mutina Bricks, Agape, New Volumes and Decoratori Bassanesi.

As part of Expo’ 26 Artedomus has also launched our first print edition of SURFACE Edition Vol. 1. The limited edition ‘broadsheet’ (as we’ve been fondly calling it in the office), extends the conversation beyond the digital realm to make space for material-rich conversations that centre on process and innovation, design ideation, and the physical manifestations of this. Request your copy.

“We believe the Galleria experience, as well as SURFACE Edition Vol. 1, will resonate with the architecture and design community, reflecting a shared knowledge and curiosity around materiality – something Artedomus has championed for 41 years,” says Artedomus’ managing director, Phil Brenton. “Every product we bring to the Australian market is carefully considered, giving our clients confidence in its exceptional quality. Through Expo ’26, we hope to spark exploration and inspire new ways of thinking about materials,” says Phil.

Here is a preview of some of the pieces visitors can expect to encounter at Expo ’26 in Melbourne. Book to visit Expo ’26 here.

Mutina Bricks

Expert in ceramics and the architectural environment, Italian design house Mutina expands the dialogues of ceramic design and structural innovation with Mutina Bricks. Mutina is conversant in ceramic ideation and design and loves to work with like-minded designers and artists who seek to push the boundaries of material and space. For Mutina Bricks, extruded terracotta is preferred for its stability prior to firing, which allows Mutina to achieve quite challenging geometries and new shapes.

Agape

Founded with the intent to create new ways of interpreting the bathroom, Agape has led the way in the evolution of the bathroom from purely functional space to the home’s centre of relaxation and wellbeing, for the past 50 years. Among those pieces on show are the Massicci Basin by Marco Zito, a cast glass washbasin created by pouring molten glass into a mould, (this process forms a monolithic volume with subtly faceted surfaces – a natural result of the cooling process). Also on show are the Cenote Basins by Patricia Urquiola, handcrafted from clay. The basin’s exterior surface is intentionally left rough to highlight its natural texture, while the interior of the bowl features a smooth, glazed finish.

New Volumes

Launched in 2018, New Volumes has quickly become the genesis for new Australian design expression, marrying people, design and materiality through a collaborative collective of designers. Driven by a shared exploration of form and a deep engagement with a single material, each collection brings boundary-pushing pieces to life under the creative direction of Artedomus and Thomas Coward.

Revealed for the first time in Australia is the Bound Table by Locki Humphrey. Locki, renowned for their versatility across numerous material mediums, embarks on a new relationship with terracotta, to present the Bound Table. This sculptural yet practical table of minimal, columnar form is at once solid and tactile. Another highlight is the Élan Console and Mirrors, designed by Jordan Fleming. Read this interview with Jordan.

Decoratori Bassanesi

Established in Italy in 1988, Decoratori Bassanesi is renowned for its incredible handmade tiles which bring a distinctly contemporary aesthetic to decorative surfaces. Through its many incredible collections it has expanded the dialogues of tradition to encompass modern Italian artistry and progressive approaches to materiality. Showcased for the first time in Australia is Flicker designed by Simone Bonanni. Simone applies the simple yet powerful design of a single ‘chip’, activating it through repetition. During installation, the carved portion of each tile is filled with the grout of the joints, completing the composition. Explore more tiles here.

Expo ’26 is open by appointment, at Artedomus Galleria in Flemington, Melbourne. Book your visit today.

Photography by Joanne Ly