Elio Martinelli
Elio Martinelli (1921 in Lucca, Tuscany – 2004) was an Italian lighting designer.
He attended a vocational school and afterwards he obtained a diploma at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence as stage designer. After few years and after several experiences in the stage design sector, he started his own business into his office located in the old town center in Lucca.
At the beginning he focused on interior design and fitting for shops, restaurants, hotels and pubs. In the 50´s, Elio Martinelli emphasizes his simple and rigorous inspiration giving a strong boost to his company which becomes a reference point for the Italian design in the lighting sector. Elio Martinelli is well known in Italy as well as abroad and he starts to work together with distinguished designers of this sector obtaining prizes and acknowledgments.
Elio Martinelli has always been inspired by simplicity, geometry and nature considered from its manifold forms, and with the introduction of new sources of light, Elio Martinelli steered designing towards a more technical sector.
Elio Martinelli was tireless, he spent every day into his company till he died in 2004.
