Michele Martinelli

Michele "Mike" Martinelli was a prominent Italian pinball artist active from 1976 through the early 1990s, recognized primarily for his vibrant backglass and playfield artwork. His career began amid Europe's booming pinball conversion-kit market, where he quickly earned a reputation for skillfully blending American pinball aesthetics with distinct European visual influences. Martinelli contributed artwork for various Italian, French, and German manufacturers, notably including Bell Games, C.E.A., Mondialmatic, Jeutel, Tecnoplay, and Apple Time. His signature works—such as Hell (1980), Papillon (1984), Cosmic Flash (1984), Evolution (1986), and Thunder Man (1987)—demonstrate his versatile approach, combining striking imagery with pop-culture references and innovative designs that enhanced player immersion and machine marketability.