Lighting Designer Francesco Murano on Illuminating Art

Francesco Murano, a lighting designer, discusses his career and techniques in an interview. His passion for light began at Domus Academy, where he studied under Clino Trini Castelli, founder of 'primary design'. Murano's first major exhibition was the Edward Hopper retrospective at the Museo di Roma in 2010, where he innovatively combined warm and cold light bulbs to enhance colors. He is developing a computer vision system with Politecnico di Milano that recognizes painting shapes for perfect illumination, with a prototype ready and expected deployment by year-end. He is also finalizing self-illuminating labels for better readability. Notable projects include illuminating two Roman sarcophagi in Melfi (2023) using mirrors, and the Bosch exhibition at Palazzo Grimani in Venice, where he channeled light through a window. Upcoming projects include Munch at Palazzo Reale in Milan, Niki de Saint Phalle at Mudec, Dubuffet and Art Brut at Mudec, and potentially relighting the Camera degli Sposi by Andrea Mantegna in Mantua.