Gianni Berengo Gardin

Gianni Berengo Gardin (Santa Margherita Ligure, 1930 – Genova, 2025) was one of Italy’s most renowned photographers. He began photographing in 1954 and, after a period in Venice, settled in Milan, where he developed his professional career. From 1966 to 1983 he worked with the Touring Club Italiano on a series of volumes dedicated to Italy and other European countries. He also collaborated with major companies such as Olivetti and began a long-standing partnership with architect Renzo Piano in 1979, documenting the development of his architectural projects.

Throughout his career, Berengo Gardin has held more than 300 solo exhibitions internationally, including major retrospectives in Arles, Milan, Lausanne, Paris, and New York. In 1972 Modern Photography listed him among the world’s 32 leading photographers. He has received numerous honors, including the Lucie Award for Lifetime Achievement (2008), an honorary degree from the University of Milan (2009), and the Ambrogino d’Oro from the city of Milan (2012). Widely regarded as a master of Italian reportage, his work combines formal rigor with a profound humanistic and social vision.