Federico Pignatelli Press contact

Prince Federico Pignatelli della Leonessa

Federico Pignatelli

The Hollywood of Photography

An entire pier in the Chelsea district of Manhattan.

Born in Rome, 1969

Founder of PIER59 STUDIOS.

Black and white portrait of Federico Pignatelli by the sea, in a white linen shirt

Rome, London, New York

Banker, Photographer, Builder

Prince Federico Pignatelli della Leonessa was born in Rome, Italy, in 1969. He began his career in Italy as a real estate developer and a leading financial journalist in monetary policy, then moved into international finance in Switzerland and London.

After several successful and rewarding years in investment banking, he decided to follow his enduring passion for photography. This led him to the creation of PIER59 STUDIOS. He is also the founder-owner and president of ART AND FASHION GROUP (AFG), and at heart, a designer and architect.

Read the full biography

  1. Southern Italy, since 900 AD

    A Family Line From 900 AD

    He hails from a family of ancient Italian nobles with roots dating back to 900 AD, one of the most illustrious families of the South of Italy and of the Kingdom of Naples and Sicily, with direct ties to Pope Innocent XII.

  2. Engraved portrait of Ettore III Pignatelli in armourEttore III Pignatelli1572 to 1622
  3. Portrait of Pope Innocent XIIPope Innocent XII1615 to 1700
  4. Portrait of Nicolo II PignatelliNicolo II Pignatelli1648 to 1730
  5. Portrait of Giovanna II Aragona Pignatelli CortesGiovanna II Aragona Pignatelli Cortes1677 to 1723
  6. Portrait of Cardinal Domenico Pignatelli di Belmonte in red robesCardinal Domenico Pignatelli di Belmonte1730 to 1806
  7. Portrait of Ettore V Pignatelli Aragona CortesEttore V Pignatelli Aragona Cortes1742 to 1800
  8. Portrait of Diego Pignatelli Aragona CortesDiego Pignatelli Aragona Cortes1774 to 1818
  9. Lithograph portrait of Francesco Pignatelli, Principe di Strongoli, in uniformFrancesco Pignatelli, Principe di Strongoli1775 to 1853
  10. The Pignatelli family crest

    Explore the lineage

International finance, then photography

Two Ambitions

Before the pier, he was a Managing Director for several major investment banking and brokerage firms, then founded his own.

  • E.F. HuttonManaging Director
  • Ladenburg & ThalmannManaging Director
  • Gruntal Co.Managing Director
  • EuroCapital PartnersFounder, investment banking firm

One of my ambitions was to be a very successful businessman and my other was to be a great photographer.

Federico Pignatelli, “Federico’s Way”, The Daily
  • 110,000square feet
  • The length of three city blocks
  • Elevencolumn-free studios
  • The largest sound stage in Manhattan

Chelsea, Manhattan, 1994

From Rusty Pier to Landmark

In 1993, when Federico Pignatelli first laid eyes on Pier59, it was nothing more than the rusty remains of a bygone era: a former cruise ship terminal that had deteriorated into a cavernous ruin. In 1994, it opened as PIER59 STUDIOS.

The studio is magic because the space is magic.

Federico Pignatelli, “Shooting Stars”, V Magazine

Read the PIER59 STUDIOS story

A white infinity cove studio at PIER59 STUDIOS, with a boom light on a wheeled stand

Beyond the pier

Companies, Films and Causes

A dancer on the floor of a PIER59 STUDIOS stage, in front of a wall of screens showing a desertPIER59 STUDIOSFounded 1994, New York Still from The Great Beauty: a woman in a lace dress holds a golden eagle in front of a castleThe Great BeautyBook and film

Companies

Films

Causes

Press enquiries

For interviews and press enquiries, contact Kris Kicior at Pier 59 Studios.

Press contact

Elsewhere

InstagramPIER59 STUDIOSArt and Fashion Group