9 Must-Have Items from Nordstrom’s Memphis Pop-Up

The collection includes a mini version of Ettore Sottsass’s famed Carlton room divider

August 24, 2018

Memphis Milano Carlton mini room divider. Photo: Nordstrom

Following the centennial of Ettore Sottsass’s birth last September, Nordstrom is rolling out a completely shoppable “exhibition” dedicated to the founder of the Memphis group and the bold style he pioneered. Dubbed Memphis Milano, the pop-up is taking place at the brand’s downtown Seattle flagship.

The concept is the brainchild of Olivia Kim, Nordstrom’s VP of creative projects, who has produced a number of successful collaborations for the retailer, including one with the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Working with Keith Johnson—one of the Memphis movement’s original dealers—Kim secured iconic pieces, including tables, chairs, lamps, ceramics, and even scarves by the Memphis Group, all of which are available for purchase at the store as well as online. The items even include a miniature version of Sottsass’s famed Carlton room divider, which retails for $900.

Accompanying the show is a temporary gift shop featuring Memphis-inspired items from brands like Areaware, Phaidon, Cofield, Volta, and Wary Meyers. Among the diverse offerings available for purchase are puzzles, calendars, jewelry, stationary, socks, and even toothbrushes and soap.

The Memphis Milano exhibition and pop-up shop at Nordstrom’s Seattle flagship. Photo: Mat Hayward/Getty Images for Nordstrom

“We are excited to bring the colorful world of Memphis Milano to life,” Kim said in a statement. “The hope is that this exhibition will open a sense of discovery, showing that the retail experience doesn’t always have to feel so transactional. Whether you are a collector of Memphis or learning about the movement for the first time, we want to make art and design accessible to all in a fun and inviting environment.”

The pop-up exhibition and gift shop runs from now through October 28, and if you can’t make it to Seattle, the catalog is available to shop online as well.