The modern alchemist

Behind every corner lies a bold pattern or shade in artist Marisa Coppiano’s Turin home

Since moving into her two-floor apartment in this early 20th-century building in central Turin five years ago, artist and designer Marisa Coppiano has filled it with colour and pattern. ‘In my childhood home, I lived in rooms covered with wallpaper,’ she says, explaining the decorative daring that has become a defining characteristic of her work and home. ‘Even in the kitchen, there were strawberry patterns on the wall!’

These days, Marisa’s own artistic interests lean more towards the scientific than the kitsch. She and the all-female team that make up her studio, situated on the first floor of her home, focus on set design for exhibitions, such as ‘Homo Sapiens’ for the Mudec museum in Milan and ‘Darwin 1809-2009’, which toured venues in Milan, Rome and Bari. ‘For the latter,’ says Marisa, ‘we used a number of maps drawn up by the De Agostini Geographical Institute, which nourished my imagination.’ They were the starting point for the wallpaper, from her own ‘Globe’ collection, which now decorates the studio’s meeting room.

Not afraid of clashing vibrant hues, she has paired the primary blue of that design with another of her original wallpapers, this time in bright pink. For Marisa, colour is emotive. The green of the entrance hall is intended to have a reassuring effect, while the inky blue of her bedroom is conducive to meditation. The most striking of her choices, perhaps, is the aubergine-like purple of the dining room. ‘It was a gamble that paid off, and has turned this into my favourite room,’ she says.

Much like the museums that house her installations, Marisa’s apartment is a theatrical fusion of objects that fascinate her. It’s no surprise that her chosen artistic medium is collage. ‘Over time, I have developed a passion for wunderkammers [cabinets of curiosity], which bring together objects that allude to a thought or stimulate points of view that are a bit special,’ she explains. Here, the items in question are not ancient artefacts, but notable pieces of contemporary design – ‘Maui’ chairs by Vico Magistretti for Kartell, a sculptural ‘Corallo’ coat hanger by Michael Sodeau for Gervasoni and the ‘Superleggera’ chairs by Gio Ponti for Cassina to name but a few. The compositions she creates are, she says, ‘not stable and permanent, but changeable over time’. They are the story of this home, her creative world, the next chapter of which is yet to be written. marisacoppiano.com

Living room The mustard hue of this sofa by Francesco Binfarè for Edra is mirrored in the details of the ‘Polka Dot’ wallpaper behind by Marisa Coppiano Maison. The side tables are the ‘Cumano’ by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, and blue ‘Chele’ by Antonino Sciortino for Atipico, while the lamp is the ‘Switch’ design by Nendo for Oluce. The small painting above is by Piero Bolla

Portrait Homeowner Marisa Coppiano beside the velvet curtains that disguise her walk-in wardrobe Studio This work area is decorated in a pink version of the Marisa Coppiano Maison ‘Polka Dot’ wallpaper. The chairs are the ‘Maui’ design by Vico Magistretti for Kartell Entrance Colourful accents, from the red ‘Corallo’ coat hanger by Michael Sodeau for Gervasoni to the purple ‘Pivot’ console by Raw Edges for Arco, complement bold emerald walls

Studio Wallpaper from Marisa’s ‘Globe’ collection features in the meeting area. The chairs are ‘Miss Trip’ by Philippe Starck for Kartell and the pendant light is from the ‘Fabian’ series by Frandsen Dining room A ‘Saarinen’ table by Eero Saarinen for Knoll is paired with ‘Superleggera’ chairs by Gio Ponti for Cassina and a ‘Tolomeo’ lamp by Artemide. The corner console is a vintage design by Alessandro Guerriero for Alchimia. In the background hangs a gold mixed-media piece by Japanese artist Yuki Sugimoto, while the globe-shaped vase on the table was picked up in Istanbul