BOSTON MA -   AD 20/21: Art & Design of the 20th & 21st Centuries, the only annual art and design show of its kind, will honor design visionaries Massimo and Lella Vignelli with a Lifetime Achievement Award at its fourth annual show April 7-10, 2011 in Boston.  For over 50 years, Massimo and Lella Vignelli have achieved renown as two of the most innovative minds in the design community.  Their work includes countless graphic and corporate identity programs and exhibition, interior, furniture, and consumer product designs for many leading American and European companies and institutions.  Massimo Vignelli is also widely known for his design of the iconic 1966 New York City subway map.  The award will be presented at the Gala Preview on Thursday, April 7, which benefits Boston Architectural College.

On Friday evening, April 8 at 6:00pm, the Vignellis will present a talk entitled "Design Is One", tracing the pivotal stages of their careers.  The program is open to the public and free with show admission. This year's Lifetime Achievement Award and the Vignellis' program on Friday are sponsored by Knoll.

Launched in 2008 by producers Tony Fusco and Robert Four, AD 20/21 has captured imaginations and drawn rave reviews.  With exhibitors from across the United States, the four-day fair features both fine art and 20th and 21st century works in all disciplines, representing major movements such as Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts, Art Deco, and Mid-Century Modern.  Notably, the show also includes outstanding 21st century studio furniture, glass, ceramics, decorative arts, jewelry, and more.  It is the first fair to bridge the gap between historical styles and contemporary works, with a goal of deepening collectors' appreciation for both.  Two of the fairs pavilions are also dedicated to the 12th Annual Boston Print Fair, which offers fine prints, photography, drawings and other works on paper.  For details and a listing of this year's exhibitors, visit the show's website at www.AD2021.com

Massimo and Lella Vignelli made their first mark on the design world with the establishment of the Vignelli Office of Design and Architecture in Milan in 1960.  In 1971, the couple established Vignelli Associates and seven years later Vignelli Designs, a company dedicated to product and furniture designs.  Both have contributed works to the permanent collections of major art and design institutions including the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum and many more.

Each member of this design “power-couple” has achieved multiple accolades and prestigious awards.  Highlights from their careers include the 1983 AIGA Gold Medal and their induction to the Interior Design Hall of Fame in 1988.  Additionally, Lella holds Honorary Doctorates form the Parsons School of Design while Massimo was awarded the first-ever Presidential Design Award, presented by President Ronald Regan in 1985.  For additional background, please visit www.vignelli.com.

Fittingly, AD 20/21 benefits Boston Architectural College (BAC), New England's largest independent, accredited college of spatial design.  Last year's benefit gala opening was attended by more than 650 people and raised over $100,000 for the BAC.   Tickets to the Gala Preview are $100 and $250, and can be purchased online at www.the-bac.edu/x3438.xml or by calling 617.585.0116.  Weekend show hours are Friday, April 8 from 1-9pm, Saturday, April 9 from 11am-8pm, and Sunday, April 10, from 11am-6pm.  Admission is $15, under 12 free and includes admission to all special programs. 

The show takes place at The Cyclorama, Boston Center for the Arts.  This historical exhibition hall is location in the heart of Boston's South End in a complex that includes the Boston Ballet School, four theatres, artists' studios, restaurants, a jazz club, and more.  The Cyclorama has become a mecca in Boston for the arts, and is also the location The Boston International Fine Art Show (BIFAS) and the Ellis Boston Antiques Show, both of which are also produced by Fusco & Four.

Exhibitor applications are still being accepted for the AD 20/21 2010 show.  For more information call 617-363-0405 or visit www.AD2021.com.