Willy Rizzo was an Italian photographer and designer.
Born in Naples, Willy Rizzo started his career as a photographer in Paris very early in the 40s. Great photographer of personalities, fashion and great reports, he has exhibited all over the world: at Galerie Agathe Gaillard in Paris, at Galerie Bukamura in Tokyo, at Maison de la Photographie in Moscow, at Mallett gallery in New York and London, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, or even at the MUBE in São Paulo.
In 1968, he moved to Rome and began his work as designer for his personal needs because, according to him, "Scandinavian furniture were neither comfortable enough nor luxurious enough. " When asked, he creates his workshops in 1970 and launched its points of sale worldwide. "Imagination and strong modern style" are the words that define his style. Today his Elliptical marble table is exhibited at MoMA in New York.
After being married to model and actress Elsa Martinelli from 1968 to 1978 Willy Rizzo married Dominique Rizzo in 1979. Together they had three children, Willy Jr, Camilla and Gloria. In 2009, they opened the Willy Rizzo Design and Photography Studio at 12 rue de Verneuil in Paris 7e.