C.P. Company and Massimo Osti Studio Exhibition Bologna
C.P. Company and Massimo Osti Studio present “ideas from Massimo Osti. From Bologna, beyond fashion.” Palazzo Pepoli, bologna, 7th june – 28th September 2025.
Twenty years after his passing, a new retrospective celebrates the revolutionary Italian designer and sportswear pioneer, Massimo Osti (Bologna, 1944 – 2005). The exhibition, staged at Palazzo Pepoli and curated by C.P. Company and Massimo Osti Studio in collaboration with the Massimo Osti Archive, traces the creative legacy of this avant-garde figure who transformed the clothing industry by establishing a distinctive and unique aesthetic.
His “engineer-designer” clothes-object creations were born from tireless research into materials, production processes, and techniques, including garment dyeing, which Osti introduced in the early ’70s. Convinced that the most innovative insights could arise from mistakes, the designer subjected each of his ideas to countless tests, adopting a rigorous and visionary approach.
Deeply connected to his hometown, Osti consciously chose to remain in Bologna, declining repeated invitations to move to the fashion capital. It was here that he was born, lived with his family, and drew daily inspiration for his work from the urban and cultural landscape, the hills, friendships, affections, and creative ferment. It is no coincidence that the exhibition comes to life precisely in Bologna, which he considered the beating heart of his creativity.
The exhibition opens with a biographical timeline of the most significant brands founded by Osti. Visitors are then invited to explore a faithful reconstruction of his studio on Via Gaibola, which served not only as a workspace but also as a true cultural crossroads in Bologna during the ’70s and ’80s. Key figures of the time, such as comic book artist Andrea Pazienza and musician Lucio Dalla, often frequented the studio.
The exhibition moves on with an immersive area dedicated to Osti’s fundamental design principles, illustrated through prototypes, military books, notebooks, graphic swatches, textile samples, and original objects. A selection of iconic garments created throughout his career – taken from the Massimo Osti Archive in Bologna – are on display, testifying to the revolutionary range of his work and its continued importance as a source of inspiration.
To celebrate the exhibition’s opening, a talk will be held on 6th June 2025 at Palazzo Pepoli, featuring Lorenzo Osti, President of C.P. Company and Massimo Osti Studio; Roberto Grandi, Professor of Communication at Bologna Business School; writer Enrico Brizzi; and Francesca Ragazzi, Head of Editorial Content at Vogue Italia.
INFORMATION : ‘IDEAS FROM MASSIMO OSTI. FROM BOLOGNA, BEYOND FASHION.’ 7th June – 28th September 2025, Palazzo Pepoli – Via Castiglione 10, 40124 Bologna palazzopepoli.it
All images C.P. Company and Massimo Osti Studio Exhibition Bologna by the brand. PR Agency Ritual Projects Paris.