Ernesto Gismondi was founder and president of Artemide, the lighting brand he founded in 1960 with fellow designer Sergio Mazza and subsequently built into of the great Italian lighting companies.
Ernesto was a member of the influential Memphis design movement, expanding horizons in design and was recently described as one of the “protagonists of that world of design that made Milan great” by Milan’s mayor Giuseppe Sala.
Artemide produces classic designs like the 1972 Tizio desk lamp by Richard Sapper and the 1987 Tolomeo desk lamp by Michele de Lucchi. The brand is part of Artemide Group which also includes design brand Danese.
A multi-faceted talent, Gismondi also held degrees in aeronautical and missile engineering, was a university lecturer, entrepreneur and was vice president of ADI, Italy’s Association of Industrial Design.
His wife – the architect and designer Carlotta de Bevilaqua – is the current vice president of Artemide and president of Danese.
The Artemide Tolomeo Micro Bicolor Adjustable Table Lamp. Photography courtesy of Artemide.
Photography courtesy of Artemide.
Ernesto Gismondi and is wife Carlotta de Bevilaqua. Photography courtesy of Artemide.
