Yesterday evening, Monday 7 October, Michael Estorick, Honorary President of the Eric and Salome Estorick Foundation, was awarded the Italian honour of "Stella d'Italia" ("Star of Italy"). In a ceremony held in London's Grosvenor Square, the Italian Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Inigo Lambertini, awarded Michael Estorick the title of Ufficiale of the Order of the Star for his commitment to modern Italian art through the Estorick Collection, enriching London's cultural landscape and strengthening ties between Italy and the United Kingdom.
The Ordine della Stella d'Italia is an Italian order of chivalry founded in 2011, reformed from the 1947 Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity. The Stella d'Italia is a prestigious decoration awarded by the President of the Italian Republic to those “who have acquired special merit in the promotion of friendly relations and cooperations between Italy and other countries and the promotion of ties with Italy”, particularly in the social and cultural field.
Michael Estorick was born in London in 1951, and is the second child of Eric and Salome Estorick. He studied history and art history at Cambridge University and is the author of several novels. Michael was Chairman of the Estorick Foundation Trustees from its inception in the mid-1990s until November 2023, he is now Honorary President of the Collection. Michael was instrumental in establishing the Foundation and has been central to its development and success over the years. By providing a home in Islington for the permanent display of the Estorick Collection, he has helped to raise the profile of modern Italian art in this country, while supporting the ground-breaking temporary exhibitions and education programmes that so many people enjoy.