Massimo Iosa Ghini

Iosa Ghini is considered one of the Fathers of Bolidism, a style which he sums up as “ a way of narrating the transition from materialety to drawing things in which the visual and media aspect prevails with respect to the object’s functional purpose”(40). It can be described as a colorful style founded in the 1980s that borrows elements from futurism, and is fascinated with human and machine interaction.

In the year 1990, Massimo founded Iosa Ghini Associati with his Wife Milena Mussi. His Firm has since worked with many International groups, developing large-scale residential, commercial and public spaces. One of his notable projects is at the Ferrari Factory Store, in which his dynamic, futurist and strikingly Italian style is transparent. His office focuses largely on the modern human experience in their architectural work, in particular how media and communication and transportation are all present in design. Massimo Iosa Ghini's colorful touch always brings a vibrancy to his work, giving a playfulness to his projects. Aside from the companies before mentioned he has helped in worldwide development of the brands such as IBM, Kiko Milano, the Capital Group, Alitalia, among many others. Iosa Ghini work has been celebrated and he was selected by Luca Zevi, curator of the Italian Pavilion at Venice Architecture Biennale 2012, for the exhibition “Architetture del Made in Italy” with the project “Seat Pagine Gialle” (Turin).

Born in Bologna, Massimo Iosa Ghini was set on pursuing illustration until he realized his passion for architecture. He attended Milan Polytechnic, upon graduating he was thrust into the fast-paced 1980s, a period which greatly inspired his work, in which he plays with the ideas of media and movement. He went onto pursuing a variety of artistic practices in this period including furniture design, and set design for an Italian TV network. In 1981, his eccentric designs landed him in the midst of the Memphis Group. This cutting edge forum of architecture and design served as a kind of further schooling for the young architect. It was here that he completed several iconic works including the "Bertrand" Sideboard and the "Otello" armchair, one of which was recently auctioned off in the late David Bowie's Collection.

Massimo Iosa Ghini (born June 18, 1959) is an Italian architect, designer and professor known for pioneering the Bolidist Movement, and for his involvement with the Memphis Group featuring others architects including Ettore Sottsass, Michael Graves. Iosa Ghini is known for his streamlined and organic designs, and is praised for his “visionary ability to blend disciplines, forms and dimensions crossing boundaries in art, design, and architecture.” He has worked prolifically throughout the world and has designed a large collection of furniture that mirrors the futuristic designs of his architectural work. In 1990 he started the Iosa Ghini Associati (Associates) Firm which today operates out of Milan, Bologna, Moscow and Miami.