IED Madrid celebrates 150th anniversary of Spanish artist and fashion designer Mariano Fortuny

There are numerous examples of artists or scientists whose work or inventions have played a crucial part in history, but whose names have been forgotten or whose names are actually not known by the vast majority of people. This is also the case for Mariano Fortuny, a Spanish artist for whom the label “multidisciplinary” falls rather short. Painter, fashion designer, set designer, sculptor, and photographer, are only a few of his many professions. On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of his birth- he was born into a family of artists in Granada in 1871-, the Istituto Europeo di Design Madrid (IED Madrid) and the FortunyM Culture Foundation (a group of professionals from the Arts and cultural sector in Spain) are hosting “Universo Fortuny”, an initiative that seeks to inform the public and introduce it to this great Spanish cultural and artistic reference, who is an eternal stranger at the same time.

During the days of the event, Thursday February 4th and Thursday February 11th, four virtual lectures take place, open to all of the public, to promote and disseminate the Spanish designer’s artistry but also to highlight his entrepreneurial spirit as an international reference of art and beauty. “It is the first time we have collaborated together but the idea to host an academic initiative about such a versatile mastermind as Mariano Fortuny, matched the IED spirit perfectly. Our school is not solely focused on fashion, but also on graphic design and product design”, explains Moisés Nieto, the Scientific Director of the Fashion Design School at IED Madrid.