Dr Silvia Micheli has co-curated a landmark exhibition about global architect Enrico Taglietti (1926–2019), a visionary whose design principles shaped modern Australian architecture and left an indelible imprint on Canberra.
Celebrating the centenary of Taglietti’s birth, Taglietti: Life in Design explores the life, philosophy and legacy of one of Australia’s most original architects and his collaborations with his wife Franca.
Renowned for his immediately recognisable sculptural shapes, Taglietti’s architecture profoundly shaped Canberra’s built environment, which was recognised internationally. He contributed over 40 commercial and residential projects across Canberra, including the award-winning Giralang Primary School, the heritage-listed Center Cinema building, as well as significant buildings in Sydney including the St Antony’s Parish Church Marsfield and St Kilda Library in Melbourne.
Originally from Italy, Taglietti and his wife Franca made a life-changing choice to stay in Australia and settle in Canberra in 1955, after being invited to make the trip from Italy by Sir Charles Lloyd Jones. Jones had wanted to showcase the latest in Italian design from the landmark X Milan Triennale at his flagship David Jones stores.
The warm reception they received in Sydney and a subsequent visit to the then-fledgling National Capital made them aware that they had a unique opportunity to contribute to the development of a new city.
"Canberra was such a non-conventional place most probably because it was quite empty and
that was the fascination of Canberra ... together with the fact that a young fellow arriving from
Italy could mix without any problem with a physic atomic energy scholar and with a Prime
Minister, that is something that was a fascination." – Enrico Taglietti
Visitors to the exhibition will experience Taglietti’s unique design language through specially created spatial interventions that highlight seven key principles central to his practice. These immersive interventions complement displays of original architectural drawings, models, photographs, rarely seen personal objects, fashion and furniture, revealing how Taglietti’s creative ethos and holistic approach permeated every aspect of his life.
The exhibition is curated by Dr Silvia Micheli, Senior Lecturer in the UQ School of Architecture, Design and Planning; Tanja Taglietti, Taglietti Studio and Archive; and Virginia Rigney, Canberra Museum and Gallery. The exhibition was made possible through a close collaboration with the Taglietti family, whose archive provided much of the cultural material presented in the exhibition.
“It’s a rare chance to understand how one of the most creative architects of our time, both in Australia and internationally, saw the world. For Enrico and his wife Franca, design was far more than a profession – it was a way of life, a totalising dimension they lived and shared with their family, colleagues, and friends.” – Dr Silvia Micheli, co-curator.
In conjunction with the exhibition, Canberra Museum and Gallery has announced a suite of public programs, including an Italian language tour, curator talks, Taglietti’s Songbook — a special performance by the National Opera, education programming and discussions with Taglietti house owners.
The exhibition runs at Canberra Museum and Gallery from 7 June 2025 to 22 February 2026. Visit the museum's website for more information and program details.
Radio interview
Dr Silvia Micheli was recently interviewed about the exhibition on ABC Radio Canberra, highlighting Taglietti's holistic design approach. Listen here.
ABC News coverage
Header image: Enrico Taglietti in his studio in Griffith, Canberra, c1976. Image: Ted Richards, courtesy Taglietti Archive.
