A Neapolitan architect and craftsman (born 1959), founder of Lune Design and Arco Arredo. The path begins in 1985 at the University of Naples with Riccardo Dalisi, self-building objects in copper, in metals and in volcanic stone; it continues at the Politecnico di Milano — a master’s degree in Architecture with a specialisation in Industrial Design — as a student of Achille Castiglioni and of Enzo Mari, his guiding light and mentor. Then came the meetings with Ugo La Pietra and Alessandro Mendini, and a continuous run of exhibitions. He alternates hands-on artistic experiment with rigorous phases of design and production: DuPont™ Corian®, metal, timber, ceramics, composite materials and 3D printing. A board member of the ADI “Handmade in Italy” commission, he is invited to lecture at the Department of Architecture and Industrial Design of the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”.
TEACHING
Working with the University “Luigi Vanvitelli”
Since 2015 Ezio Colombrino has worked with the Department of Architecture and Industrial Design “Luigi Vanvitelli” in Aversa: lectures on the great masters (Mari, Castiglioni, Albini, Ponti), on self-production and on working DuPont™ Corian, together with prof. Claudio Gambardella. An agreement was signed with Arco Arredo for curricular training and orientation placements, opening the company’s production and design experience to the students.
Out of the Industrial Design Laboratory came a “learned souvenir” — a new university merchandising inspired by the theme of the Journey — shown at the “Futuro Remoto” exhibition in 2015 in Piazza del Plebiscito, Naples, with objects in Corian made by Arco Arredo.
Exhibitions, shows and appointments — 1985–2024
1985
“L’onda del Sud?”, curated by Andrea Branzi — Bari · “Tic-Tac” — Bari
1986
“La cosa inventata” — Tokyo and Museo S. Andrea, Milan · “Forum” — French Cultural Institute, Naples
1986
“Un vulcano bambino” — solo show, installation and catalogue curated by Enzo Mari — Danese, Milan
1987
The Vulcanelli at Cinzia Ruggeri’s fashion show, Milan · “S.A.D. ’87” — Grand Palais, Paris
1988
“Abitare con arte” — Centro Internazionale di Brera, Milan
1989
“L’art dans les meubles” — International Furniture Fair, Paris · “Rituali domestici” — Verona Fair (curated by Ugo La Pietra) · “Vivere il tempo a Milano” — Brera, Milan
1990
“Existenz Maximum” — Florence, curated by Alessandro Mendini · “Design Balneare” — Cattolica
1991
2nd International of ephemeral sculpture — Fortaleza, Brazil · “Straordinario” — Spedale degli Innocenti, Florence
1992
“Souvenir” — Le Navi, Cattolica · “Alabastro” — Brera, Milan · “Nuovo Bel Design” — Milan Fair
1993
“La Fabbrica Estetica” — Grand Palais, Paris · “Expo ’93” — Taejon, South Korea · among the 300 designers selected worldwide by Databank Trunk Co., Tokyo
1994
“Arte e Design” — solo show, Mashrabia Art Gallery, Cairo · “Alabastro” — International Marble Fair, Carrara · “Zoo” — Bari
1996
“Il Design Italiano 1973–1990” — Palazzo della Triennale, Milan
2000
The prophetic diary of the Cooperativa del Granserraglio — curated by Alessandro Guerriero
2004
“Artdesign 2004” — Piazza Plebiscito, Naples · “Normali meraviglie” — Porto Antico, Genoa
2005
“Art of Italian Design” — Megaron Plus, Athens, curated by Alessandro Mendini
2010
“Quali Cose Siamo” — Triennale Design Museum, Milan, curated by A. Mendini (Electa catalogue)
2013
“Bla Bla, a virtual discussion among makers” · “Mano e terracotta” · “Duetto” — Fabbrica del Vapore, Milan
2014
“Mano e Terracotta” — Argillà, Palazzo Manfredi, Faenza
2016
Teaching — University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Department of Architecture and Industrial Design
2017
National thematic commission “Hand made in Italy” — ADI
2022
“Strutture leggere per pensieri concreti” — Design RE-generation, University of Milan
2024
Specialist, ADI Design Index commission — Design of materials and technological systems
2024
“We Will Survive” — MUDAC, Lausanne
2026
“We Will Survive” — new stop of the MUDAC exhibition — Bordeaux, France (until August 2027)
