Francesco Merlini Email and Phone Number

After a bachelor's degree in industrial design at the Politecnico University of Milan, I completely devoted myself to photography and now I work mainly on personal long-term projects and editorials, always looking for a point of contact between my documentary background and a strong interest for metaphors and symbolism.  In 2016 I was selected by the British Journal of Photography in order to be part of The Talent Issue: Ones to Watch and in 2020 I was shortlisted for the Prix HSBC pour la Photographie. In 2021 I was one of the nominees for the Leica Oskar Barnack Award and in 2023 I was shortlisted at the Sony World Photography Awards. My books have been recognized by Fondation Henri Cartier-Bresson, Kraszna-Krausz Foundation, PHotoESPANA, Belfast Photo Festival and other institutions. My pictures have been published on important magazines and newspapers worldwide including Washington Post, Financial Times, Le Monde, The Guardian, Wired, Internazionale, Corriere della Sera, D La Repubblica, La Stampa, L'Espresso and many others while my projects have been featured on renowned photography platforms as American Suburb X and Time Lightbox. My work has been exhibited worldwide in solo and collective shows. My last book Better in the Dark than His Rider has been published in 2023 by Depart Pour l'Image. In 2021 I released The Flood published by Void.

I regularly collaborate with Istituto Italiano di Fotografia (IIF) in Milano and Scuola SpazioTempo in Bari as documentary photography and reportage lecturer in courses that space from the bachelor to the masterclass level.

In parallel with my photographic career, I have coordinated the international documentary collective Prospekt, taking on the role of photo editor, project manager, art director and sales manager.Working closely with some of the most awarded contemporary reportage photographers I've edited, finalized and sold photographic series to the most important magazine worldwide.Simultaneously I've coordinated the photographers, managed the production and the visual aspects of collective editorial and cultural projects that involved different interlocutors including medias, museums, institutions, foundations, municipalities and brands, creating high-level visual projects, conceived and implemented with a modern and engaging approach, combining our journalistic, technical and visual background with the dissemination needs of our interlocutors.Over the years I've also curated and realized all the graphic aspects of the visual identity of Prospekt.SELECTED PROJECTSThe Passenger - MagazinePartner: IperboreaRole: Curator and supervisor of the photographic contentsChina Goes Urban - ExhibitionPartners: Mao Museo d'Arti Orientali di Torino, Politecnico di Torino, Tsinghua University of BeijingRole: Curator, photo editor and project coordinator100 Giorni in Europa - Multimedia site and publicationsPartner: Corriere della SeraRole: Photographer, photo editor and project coordinatorthis Is Mirrionis - Exhibitions, workshops and artist residenciesPartner: Musei Comunali di CagliariRole: Project manager and photo editorUniCredit Pavilion - Corporate documentary and multimedia sitePartner: UniCreditRole: Art director and photo editorAl Centro di Tunisi. Geographies of public space after a revolution - Multimedia sitePartner: Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Politecnico di TorinoRole: Art director