Italian photographer Maurizio Galimberti, best known for his use of Polaroid, has created a specially commissioned series of prints that celebrate the Fiat 500, from the original to the new model.

Renown Italian photographer Maurizio Galimberti, known for his use of Polaroid, has created a specially commissioned series of prints that celebrate the Fiat 500, from the birth of the original to the new model.

Fiat entrusted a new red Fiat 500 to Galimberti to interpret the car in his own, unique style, though a project put together by the Leo Burnett communications agency. The prints celebrate the 500's recent capture of the important Car of the Year 2008 award.

The theme of the prints has been the magical, sunny roads of an undeveloped Southern Italy, placing the original 500 in territory that it explored when the little car 'motorised' the Italian nation half a century ago. The visuals of the prints put the original 500 side-by-side with the new model, providing a clear link, serving up a delightful landscape that is graphically shown to have changed so little during that time.

He took to the roads with the Polaroid style that is central to so much of his many and highly regarded works. The result is effective: light, bright and pleasing, the qualities of the 500 are perfectly reflected in the settings that Galimberti has carefully chosen. The artist has a reputation as a carefree spirit and his choice of colours and gestures stir the viewer, blending and complimenting Fiat's new car. The Fiat 500 as an important object of history is captured in the prints, and as he travelled around Southern Italy, so does the role of this unique car as a key tool in the purpose of travel become very apparent.

Maurizio Galimberti

He privileges research photography through the concepts of rhythms and movement typical of futurists and cubist. He appears on the scene using a Widelux camera for research “on the road.” Afterwards, for the past 18 years, he has consistently used Polaroid and quickly became the creator of a specific movement. 

In 1992 he won the prestigious ''Gran Prix Kodak Pubblicità Italia.'' In 2000 he created a travelling exhibition from the series ''I Maestri'' for KODAK ITALIA. Creativity takes the form of larger project in ''Mosaico Fotografico'', a ''reinvented'' technique adapted above all in the very personal portraits in the world of art, fashion and culture. Was the POLAROID ''Instant Artist” and creator of the ''Polaroid Collection Italiana". Works with ''CARTIER ART MAGAZINE”. Created a portrait project titled ''Il Milan del Centenario” for the A.C. Milan soccer club., presented in an exhibition at the Triennale di Milano in March 2000. 

For the VENICE FILM FESTIVAL in 1996-1998-2003-2004-2005-2006, in collaboration with Polaroid, Photo Movie and Jaeger LeCoultre he created portraits and mosaics with the Polaroid 50x60 for the stars present. For NOKIA Italia he developed an artistic research project via cell phone. For JAEGER LE COULTRE created images for the prestigious Manufacture’s history, written by Franco Cologni. For FIAT he made their 2006 calendar. For EDIZIONI CONDE' NAST "Vogue Gioiello" in September 2006 he created a special volume about Italy’s jewellers. ''Visiting Professor” at the Domus Academy of Milan, the Istituto Italiano di Fotografia of Milan and the spazio FORMA of Milan, he also conducts numerous photography workshops. 

In January 1999 was voted Italy’s best portrait-photographers by the monthly magazine CLASS. On Sept. 27, British magazine 'The Times' devoted an entire cover to a portrait of American actor Johnny Depp made for the 60th Venice Film Festival. He worked with ''Fondazione delle Arti e dei Mestieri Cologni” on the volume 'IL FOTOGRAFO, MESTIERE D’ARTE' edited by Giuliana Scimé (Il Saggiatore). 

In October 2003 he published ''MADE IN ITALY viaggio con Polaroid'' (LOGOS Modena). In December 2003 he published "IL GIARDINO D'INVERNO" edited by D. Curtis (Edizioni CONTRASTO extra). In June 2004 he published ''NAPOLI ISTANTANEA'' edited by Giuliana Scimé (LOGOS MODENA). In September 2004 he published ''INSTANTANEO...VENEZIA PLANET...'' edited by I. ZANNIER ( BUGNO ART GALLERY). In October 2005 he published "METACITTAFISICA" edited by R. Mutti, (Edizioni  CONTRASTO extra). In 2006 he published the three volume series “I quaderni di Maurizio Galimberti”. In February 2007 he published “New York Polaroid…” edited by G. Scimè (Damiani). In May 2007  he published "METAMORFOSI"  edit by M.T.Cerretelli  (Electa). His works are included in some of the most important photographic collections.