Biography

Alexandre Wollner (São Paulo, 1928- ). Graphic designer. Began his studies with the visual design course at the Institute of Contemporary Design (IAC), created at the São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand Museum of Art (Masp), in 1950, where he studied with Lina Bo Bardi (1914-1992), Poty (1924-1998) and Sambonet (1924-1995). Collaborated with Pietro Maria Bardi (1900-1999) in staging the retrospective exhibition of Max Bill (1908-1994), at the Masp, in 1951. Interested in the Concretist movement, in 1953, he joined the Grupo Ruptura [Rupture Group], presenting his constructivist works at the 2nd São Paulo International Bienal. Also in 1953, he was chosen by Max Bill to study at the Hochschule für Gestaltung [Superior School of Form] in Ulm, Germany, where he remained from 1954 to 1958. Upon returning to Brazil, together with Geraldo de Barros (1923-1998) and others he inaugurated Form-Inform, the first design consultancy in the country. In 1963, he took part in the structuring and creation of the Escola Superior de Desenho Industrial (ESDI) [Superior School of Industrial Design], in Rio de Janeiro, the first higher level design institution in the country. During the 1960s, he opened his own visual programming office, where he developed logotypes for major companies. He exhibited his projects at the Masp and at the Museum of Modern Art of Rio de Janeiro (MAM/RJ) in 1980, opting for a show that emphasised the process of creation, execution and implementation of visual identity programme. In 1999, the Centre of Communication and Arts of Senac, in São Paulo, held his second individual exhibition. In 2003, Wollner celebrated 50 years of design with his book Design Visual 50 Anos, and an exhibition of his photographs at the Maria Antônia University Centre, in São Paulo.