New illy Cup Collection Supports Artists, Promotes Coffee Sustainability

A limited-edition illy cup collection being sold in the United States goes beyond promoting the sipping of beautiful espressos and cappuccinos to relay a message about coffee-growing communities and sustainable coffee production around the world, while also supporting creative artists in coffee-producing countries with an opportunity to have their work seen by millions.

The cup collection is tied to the upcoming EXPO Milano in 2015 and will include a total of 10 cups representing the works of creative artists from emerging regions, including coffee-producing countries ranging from Ethiopia and Honduras to Costa Rica, Guatemala and others. Officially named the sustainArt collection for EXPO, it is one of the most prolific endeavors for an illy cup collection that will serve as “World’s Fair” collector memorabilia while also creating a legacy for the biggest event in the world dedicated to a crucial topic facing the human race, which is feeding the planet for future generations.

Four of the 10 cup designs have been released for sale representing the work of four artists who have harnessed the power of their art to interpret the EXPO’s food-centric theme: “Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life.” The collection is available in espresso cups/saucers ($90) and cappuccino cups/saucers ($120), individually signed and numbered, and available through espressamente illy cafes and online at www.illyusa.com.

“This cup collection is emotionally and intellectually inspiring because it represents a broad range of topics significant to the world we live in today,” said Carlo Bach, illy’s global artistic director. “The coffee cup is not just a cup for illy – it continues to be a canvas for creative ideas and a medium to communicate coffee culture and the beauty that surrounds us daily.”

Since 1992, the famous artist cups known as illy Art Collections have transformed an everyday object by serving as a blank canvas for more than 70 internationally renowned and respected artists, including Michelangelo Pistoletto, Marina Abramovic, Anish Kapoor, Daniel Buren, Robert Rauschenberg, Jeff Koons, Jan Fabre, James Rosenquist, Jannis Kounellis, Julian Schnabel, Louise Bourgeois and William Kentridge.

Illy was chosen as an official partner of EXPO 2015, designated to spearhead the creation of a “Coffee Cluster” in collaboration with the International Coffee Organization (ICO). The EXPO 2015 governing body’s choice to align with illy was directly tied to the company’s passion, knowledge and extensive relationships forged within the global coffee industry over the past 80 years. The Coffee Cluster is one of nine themed EXPO 2015 pavilions that will focus on specific foods and related subjects.

Illycaffe North America imports, distributes and markets illy products throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico. With global headquarters in Trieste, Italy, illy is a leader in providing super-premium coffee known for its distinctly balanced and beautiful taste, produced to the industry’s highest quality standards. Its full range of roasted coffee (whole bean, ground and single serve), espresso machines, artist-created cups and other accessories can be experienced at leading cafes, hotels, and restaurants, and purchased for the home at higher-end retailers.