I was born in Florence in 1950, where I currently work and live. As the son of an Italian father and American mother I grew up bilingual and have dual nationality. In the 60s I received my first camera and it soon became a way for me to relate to my surroundings, to friends and everyday life. Once I completed my education in Florence in 1972, I moved to New York where I attended Pratt Institute until 1975, studying photography. My move to New York was a life changer. I was very fortunate, to be there at that time, in the midst of so many of the world famous masters of photography who often held lectures at the school. Joel Meyerowitz, Duane Michals, Robert Frank among others were inspiring and artistically nurturing. My main teachers were Charles Harbutt, Philip Perkis, William Gedney and Diana Edkins. Upon my return to Italy I started the photography department at the Studio Arts Center International, teaching what I had learned in New York. I continued visiting the USA and especially New York every year. I maintained my close ties with the United States and in 1988 I was invited as “visiting professor” at Cooper Union. Since then I have promoted Italian photographers in the United States, introducing the likes of Gabriele Basilico, Olivo Barbieri, Guido Guidi, Luigi Ghirri and Cristina Omenetto. My experience in teaching for 15 years laid the foundation of Studio Marangoni in 1990, which is to this day a leading educational and cultural center in Italy. The Studio Marangoni’s mission is to promote and educate contemporary photography in Italy, and to promote Italian photography abroad. The success of Studio Marangoni is largely due to my contacts gathered in the United States and in Europe, but also at international events such as  the Rencontres Internationales de la Photographie in Arles, Paris Photo, Photo London as well as Unseen in Amsterdam.

I have continued to pursue my photographic vision relying on the firm conviction that running a cultural and educational center and making new work are sides of the profession that feed each other. Making books has been my preferred way to work on long term projects. Since the mid 80’s I have published 6 monographs. All are the result of long-term explorations of the places I live in or visit regularly. Although these books have an autobiographical narrative, they engage with wider topics, such as social and cultural interaction in the modern city as well as in those cities with a long history and heritage. 

MONOGRAPHS

Rebuilding, My days in New York Edited by Rob van Hoesel and Martino Marangoni, The Eriskay Connection, Breda, The Netherlands, 2019
Nonni’s Paradiso, An Olive tree Story Edited by Rob van Hoesel and Martino Marangoni Published by Danilo Montanari, Ravenna, Italy and The Eriskay Connection, Breda,The Nederlands, 2016
Alone Together Edited by Rob van Hoesel and Martino Marangoni Publishers by Danilo Montanari, Ravenna, Italy and The Eriskay Connection, Breda, The Netherland, 2014
Ozymandias Introduction by Nicoletta Leonardi Published by Pagliai Polistampa, Florence 2004
Terra Dintorno Edited by Roberta Valtorta, ART&, Udine 1997
Martin Marangoni. Fotografie 1976-1983  Self published. Florence, 1983, Text by the author

CATALOGUES 

L’Italia è un desiderio. Fotografie Paesaggi e Visioni 1842- 2022 Le Collezioni Alinari e Mufuco, Electa, Milano 2023
After/Dopo. Edited by Giovanna Calvenzi, Silvana Editoriale, Cinisello Balsamo Milano 2021
Italia Inside Out Curated by Giovanna Calvenzi Published by Contrasto, Rome 2016
Phone Photography Curated by Giovanna Calvenzi Published by CIFA, Bibbiena (Arezzo) 2015
Alone Together, Photography and the Other Curated by Frits Gierstberg Gjon Mili International Photo Exhibition 2013 National Gallery of Kossovo, Pristina
MAXXI Cantiere d’autore. Racconto fotografico Edited by Francesca Fabiani, MAXXI – Museo Nazionale delle Arti del XXI Secolo 2010 Edited by Simonetta Merendoni and Luigi Ulivieri, Umberto Alemandi, Torino 2009
Il Palazzo Magnifico, The Medici Palace in Florence Edited by Simonetta Merendoni and Luigi Ulivieri Published by Umberto Alemandi Editore, Torino 2009
Are You Sensitive? Curated by Daria Filardo Museo Marino Marini, Firenze ANNO’?
Mediterranea, Edited by Clara Gelao Published by Federico Motta Editore, Milano 2005
Paesaggi Italiani, curated by Nicoletta Leonardi, Sala delle Reali Poste, Uffizi Gallery, Florence 1998
Hope Photographs Edited by Alice Rose George and Lee Marks, Thames and Hudson, 1998
Forma, Visioni e Visione. Edited by Moreno Gentili, Arti Grafiche Friulane, Udine, 1994
Archivio dello Spazio 2 Edited by Achille Sacconi and Roberta Valtorta. Art&, Udine, 1993
Immagini Italiane Edited by Melissa Harris Aperture n° 132, New York, 1993
Archivio dello Spazio Edited by Achille Sacconi and Roberta Valtorta. Art&, Udine, 1991
L’Insistenza dello Sguardo Edited by Paolo Costantini, Alinari, Florence, 1989
Misure del Paesaggio, Curated by Roberta Valtorta. Museo del Paesaggio, Verbania 1987

2021 L’Italia è un Desiderio Fotografie Paesaggi e Visioni 1842- 2022 Le Collezioni Alinari e Mufuco Scuderie del Quirinale, Roma
2018 After/Dopo Curated by Giovanna Calvenzi Arte Sella, Borgo Valsugana. Once Upon a Time a Wood
2017 Incontri Confluenti Progetto RIVA 2021 MAD- Murate Art District
2015 Alone Together Garfagnana Fotografia 2017 Castelnuovo di Garfagnana (Lucca)
2015 Visions of Cities Sergio Dahò and Martino Marangoni,, curated by Giovanna Calvenzi, Bel Vedere Fotografia, Milan.
2015 Italia Inside Out curated by Giovanna Calvenzi. Palazzo Della Ragione, Milan. A selection from Terra Dintorno 1985-1993
2013 Phone Photography curated by Giovanna Calvenzi, Centro italiano della fotografia d’autore, Bibbiena. A Journey in the Urology department.
2010 Alone Together, Photography and the Other. Curated by Frits Gierstberg Gjon Mili International Phot Exhibition 2013 National Gallery of Kossovo, Pristina a selection from Alone together 2011 54ª Venice Biennale. Tuscan Pavilion, Villa Bardini, Florence.
2006 Cantiere D’Autore. Racconto fotografico, Curated by Francesca Fabiani, MAXXI – Museo Nazionale delle Arti del XXI Secolo, Rome.
2006 Naturale, Opere e progetti del Museo di Fotografia Contemporanea Curated by Roberta Valtorta, A selection from Water Under the Bridges
2005 Are You Sensitive? Curated by Daria Filardo Museo Marino Marini, Firenze City People 2001-2005 (video installation)
2005 Italy: Spaces and Places, curated by Charles Traub, Robert Mann Gallery, New York
2003 Mediterranea, Edited by Clara Gelao, Federico Motta Editore, Pinacoteca Provinciale di Bari. Egypt 2015
2001 Atlante Italiano 2003, curated by Pio Baldi, MAXXI – Museo Nazionale delle Arti del XXI Secolo, Rome.
1999 Luce Prigioniera, Percorsi fotografici nel ex carcere delle Murate di Firenze.
1998 The Arno River, curated by Michel Dieuzeide, Garonne Festival, Chateau d’Eau, Toulouse.
1998 Images from the Inner World, curated by Toni Thorimbert, Les Rencontres d’Arles, Arles.
1997 Paesaggi Italiani, curated by Nicoletta Leonardi, Sala delle Reali Poste, Uffizi Gallery, Florence.
1996 Photographie Italienne Contemporaine, curated by Claude Nori, Chateau d’Eau Municipal Gallery, Toulouse.
1994 Private Landscape, Galleria Spazio Immagine, Bari.
1993 Forma, curated by Moreno Gentili, French Cultural Institute, Rome.
1991 Encore un fois un paysage, curated by Gabriele Basilico, Mai de la Photo, Rheims.
1989 Archivio dello Spazio, Milano.
1989 L’insistenza dello sguardo, curated by Paolo Costantini, Italo Zannier, Milan
1987 Misure del Paesaggio, Curated by Roberta Valtorta. Museo del Paesaggio, Verbania.
1984 Central Park, Photography Biennal, New York.
1984 Photographie Creative, curated by Jean Claude Lemagny, Pavillon des arts, Mois de la Photo, Paris 

2004 Ozymandias, Spaziofoto, Credito Artigiano, Florence
2001 Terre di pietra, National Archaeology Museum, Florence
2000 Terra d’intorno, Istituto italiano di Cultura, San Francisco
1999 Terra d’intorno, Blue Sky Gallery, Portland, Oregon
1997 Terra d’intorno, Institute Francais, Florence and ACTA International, Rome
1995 Private Landscape, Galleria Spazio Immagine, Bari
1994 Nowhereland, Libreria Einaudi, Milan
1986 Galerie XYZ, Gent, Belgium
1985 Centro San Fedele, Milan
1984 Galleria Fotografica Oltre, Chiasso, Switzerland 

My photographs are in the collections of Calcografia Nazionale in Rome; Museo della Fotografia Contemporanea, in Cinisello Balsamo-Milan, the Cabinet des Estampes de la Bibliothèque Nationale de France in Paris; the FRAC Archive in Lyon; la Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris; the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston; Camera Works in New York; CCA, Canadian Centre for Architecture, Montreal; MAXXI, Rome; Arte Sella, Borgo Valsugana, Trento.