MaoSagao

Maurizio Capannesi is an Italian artist and designer based in Barcelona. After earning a master’s degree in statistics and working as an epidemiologist for the Dutch government in The Netherlands, he chose to pursue his true vocation: visual arts and design. He initially trained as a self-taught designer before completing a postgraduate program in furniture design at ELISAVA.

His passion for drawing and creating has deep roots. Since childhood, he spent countless hours in his aunt’s architecture studio, experimenting with materials like clay and cardboard, and building geometric solids for fun. Immersed in a creative environment, he developed a visual sensitivity that over time evolved into a unique and personal aesthetic.

Capannesi has received numerous international design awards, including the Red Dot Design Award (2012) in the Concept category, Silver and Gold A’ Design Awards (2013) in Furniture and Lighting. He was also a finalist in several prestigious competitions, including ADI-FAD Medallas, ArtFad Awards, IF Design Talents and the ADI-FAD Delta Awards.

In 2025, under the pseudonym MaoSagao, he was selected to exhibit his solo show Facades – Order in Chaos at Superstudio - FLA FlavioLucchiniArt Museum during Superdesign Show / Milano Design Week, and going on until June 30, 2025. His work, focused on the tension between order and chaos in urban environments, continues to explore repetition, rhythm, and the psychological impact of architectural landscapes.