The fashion doll world lost two of its most influential figures last week. Mario Paglino and Gianni Grossi, the Italian duo behind Magia2000, were killed in a tragic car accident on the A4 motorway in northern Italy. Their deaths have left silence in a community known more for sparkle, colour, and creativity than grief.
The crash happened near Marcallo-Mesero, just outside Milan. An elderly driver, reportedly in his eighties, had mistakenly driven several miles in the wrong direction before colliding head-on with the couple’s vehicle. Another man, a young Milanese banker, was also killed. His wife, seriously injured, remains in hospital.
Paglino and Grossi were partners not only in art but also in life. Their collaboration began in 1999 when they created Magia2000, a small studio that quickly became famous among collectors for turning Barbie dolls into miniature works of haute couture. Sweeping gowns, beaded trimmings, and small-scale copies of popular celebrity fashions were common elements in their creations. Their dolls were respected, retold narratives, and at times even conveyed social messages.
In a remarkably short time, their reputation quickly blossomed, capturing the attention and admiration of many beyond their immediate community. Their work was featured in exhibitions and was auctioned at international conventions, raising thousands for charity. Some dolls sold for eye-watering amounts—not because of materials, but because of meaning. They reimagined figures like Madonna, Lady Gaga, and Cher in plastic and silk, capturing something of the performer’s essence in just 11.5 inches of vinyl.
However, their creativity extended well beyond pop culture influences. Art played a major role in their process. They recreated the spirit of artists like Mondrian and Frida Kahlo with colour-blocked gowns or delicate embroidery that echoed brushstrokes. These weren’t toys; they were tributes—tactile, wearable versions of the world’s most recognised visuals.
Paglino studied communications and theatre, while Grossi studied art and design. They created each Magia2000 doll as though it existed in its world, yet all were connected by the profound comprehension of these components. They captured the intense moments of passion and brought each character to life in a captivating manner.
They were also central figures in the collector world. In 2011, they launched the Italian Doll Convention, now considered one of Europe’s most important events for fashion doll enthusiasts. It evolved from a commerce show into a celebration of creativity, camaraderie, and design. They conducted seminars, gave presentations, and always found time to greet their devoted followers.
The two stayed grounded in spite of their rising international prominence. They are as warm as they are talented, according to many who have met them. They remembered faces, encouraged newcomers, and brought a real sense of fun to everything they did.
Their sudden loss has stunned a community that is rarely short on words. Online tributes have flooded in from collectors, designers, and fans across the world. But more than anything, people are struggling to believe it. They were so full of life and constantly in motion that it seems impossible they are no longer here.
It is difficult to sum up the legacy of two people who poured so much into such a niche corner of the art world. But perhaps that’s the point. Paglino and Grossi showed that even in the smallest things—a doll’s dress, a hairstyle, a pose—there can be beauty, humour, and connection. They treated their work seriously but never lost the joy.
Their studio, Magia2000, was named for “magic” and the start of a new millennium. Fitting, really—their creations were magical, and their impact will long outlast the year they began. Though their lives ended far too soon, the world they built — vivid, playful, elegant — remains.
