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Oliviero Toscani, photographer who turned advertising into art, dies at 82

other · 2026-04-26

Oliviero Toscani, the renowned Italian photographer celebrated for his socially conscious advertising, passed away on January 13, 2025, in Cecina, Italy, following a diagnosis of amyloidosis in 2023. Born in Milan in 1942, Toscani pursued his studies in Zurich and contributed to prestigious magazines such as Elle and Vogue, crafting memorable campaigns for brands like Benetton, Jesus Jeans, and Valentino. He received numerous accolades, including a Golden Lion at Cannes in 1989. In 1995, he released "La pub est une charogne qui nous sourit" and took on the role of creative director for Colors magazine in 1991. His initiatives included awareness campaigns and the "Razza Umana" survey. In 2024, his extensive archive began digitization at Politecnico di Torino, prompting tributes from various prominent figures.

Key facts

  • Oliviero Toscani died on January 13, 2025, at the hospital in Cecina, Italy.
  • He was diagnosed with amyloidosis in 2023 by Dr. Michele Emdin in Pisa.
  • Toscani was born in Milan in 1942 to Fedele Toscani, a photojournalist.
  • He studied at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Zurich from 1961 to 1965.
  • He worked for Elle, Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, and created campaigns for Benetton, Jesus Jeans, Prenatal, Valentino, Esprit, and Fiorucci.
  • He founded the Fabrica research center with Benetton in 1994.
  • He won the Grand Prix d'Affichage, Grand Prix Unesco, and a Golden Lion at Cannes in 1989.
  • The Politecnico di Torino began digitizing his archive in 2024.

Entities

Artists

  • Oliviero Toscani
  • Fedele Toscani
  • Stefano Boeri
  • TvBoy
  • Gianni Veneziano

Institutions

  • Corriere della Sera
  • Kunstgewerbeschule Zurich
  • Elle
  • Vogue
  • Harper's Bazaar
  • Benetton
  • Fabrica
  • Jesus Jeans
  • Prenatal
  • Valentino
  • Esprit
  • Fiorucci
  • Colors magazine
  • Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Salute
  • Regione Calabria
  • Fondazione Umberto Veronesi
  • Politecnico di Torino
  • Grand Prix d'Affichage
  • Grand Prix Unesco
  • Cannes Film Festival
  • Daysign
  • M5S
  • PD
  • Radicali
  • Lista Bonino

Locations

  • Cecina
  • Italy
  • Pisa
  • Milan
  • Zurich
  • Switzerland
  • Palestine
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • Guatemala

Sources