Johnny Ricci, photographer of Italian contemporary art, dies in Milan

Johnny Ricci, the Milanese photographer known for his discreet portraits of contemporary artists, died on October 25, 2022, at age 84. Born Giovanni Ricci under Fascist-era naming laws, he began photographing at 16 with a camera given by a cousin. After high school and his father's death, he worked in a studio on Via Moscova before going independent in 1963, initially living in a Franciscan cell in Piazza del Carmine. He forged close friendships with artists Luciano Fabro and Dadamaino, documenting Fabro's first solo show at Zita Vismara. Ricci worked primarily for artists rather than galleries, though he collaborated with Valeria Belvedere. He never exhibited his own photographs, stating, 'The key to my work is simplicity.' In later years, he was assisted by Annalisa Guidetti, who died in 2016. Ricci's private life remained guarded; he was known for his light raincoat, affable manner, and gentle irony. His funeral was held in silence at Milan's Lambrate cemetery.