Elio Martinelli

Elio Martinelli was born in Lucca in 1921/2004. He attends a vocational school and afterwards he obtains a diploma at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence as stage designer; over the years he gives his contribution, thanks to his creativity, to the development of his father’s, Plinio, business in the lighting sector. After few years and after several experiences in the stage design sector, he starts his own business into his office located in the old town center in Lucca. At the beginning he focuses on interior design and fitting for shops, restaurants, hotels and pubs. Because of the need to finish his plans, he draws and carries out lighting devices on his own. We are in the 50s, the production starts and the first catalogue is issued. During these years, 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. In 1996, during his leadership, the company takes part to the first edition of Eurodomus, at the architect Gio’ Ponti’s invitation and afterwards it is present at the editions in 1968, 1970 and 1972. It is also present to the 14th and 15th editions of the Milan Triennial in 1973 and to all the following editions of the Milan Fair, Intel and now Euroluce. Elio Martinelli has always been inspired by simplicity, geometry and nature considered from its manifold forms. A crescendo of intuitions using new materials such as methacrylate, which has been tested with different methods from the beginning of the production and designing activity.