Bellini, Mario (1935– )

Italian architect and industrial designer. He was one of the figures who helped establish Italy as a leading nation in industrial design from the 1960s. He is known for his elegant pieces of office machinery for the Olivetti company (from 1962) and his sophisticated furniture designs for Cassina (from 1964). Since the 1980s Bellini has worked chiefly as an architect in Europe, Japan, the USA and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Bellini trained at Milan Polytechnic and worked at the Rinascente department store in Milan 1959–62 before becoming a freelance industrial designer. He has worked for a large number of manufacturers, including Brionvega, Poltrona Frau, and Artemide in Italy and Yamaha in Japan, in the areas of furniture and products. He was also commissioned by the auto industry as a designer by both Fiat and Lancia. In 1987, he became the first living artist to have a solo show at New York City's Museum of Modern Art.