Profile:
Enzo Mari was born in Novara in 1932.
He studied at the Accademia delle Belle
Arti in Milan, and alongside his studies,
in the fifties he had already developed an
intense artistic production, with personal
and collective exhibitions at galleries and
contemporary art museums.
At the same time, he also began his
design work, at first as personal, formal
research, and later in collaboration with
numerous industrial companies, in the
graphics and publishing, industrial prod-
ucts and exhibition fittings sectors.
His work is internationally acclaimed,
and considered to be among the most
representative of Italian design. It is
distinguished by constant research and
experimentation with new product forms
and meanings, often set in contrast with
the traditional norms of industrial design.
His unique position as an artist-cum-de-
signer is documented in the many publi-
cations dedicated to his work, and in his
participation in major institutions,
including ADI - the Italian industrial
design association, of which he was
president from 1976 to 1979.
He has three times been awarded the
Compasso d’Oro, and his art works and
objects are included in the collections of
several contemporary art museums.
In 1983 a major personal exhibition was
held by the “Centro Studi e Archivio
della Comunicazione” at the University of
Parma, which conserves 8,500 designs
and drawings from his archive, donated
by him.
His work has also included research
and design in the field of street furniture
(City of Milan, revamping of Piazza del
Duomo) and education, in the form of
conferences and series of lectures both
in Italy and abroad, including courses
given at the Institute of Art History of the
University of Parma, and at the faculty of
Architecture of the Politecnico in Milan.
Enzo Mari
