Oliviero Toscani, the celebrated Italian photographer, passed away on January 13.
Born in Milan on February 28, 1942, Oliviero Toscani inherited his passion for photography from his father, Fedele, a distinguished photojournalist for Corriere della Sera. After honing his craft at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Zurich, he began a prolific career working with major fashion magazines such as Vogue, Elle, and Harper’s Bazaar. His photography graced campaigns for top-tier brands like Valentino, Chanel, and Fiorucci.
Toscani reached the height of his influence during the 1980s and 1990s through his collaboration with Benetton. As the brand’s creative director, he pioneered advertising campaigns that tackled divisive social issues, using striking and often controversial visuals to address themes like racism, the AIDS crisis, and the death penalty.
Beyond his work with Benetton, Toscani co-founded Colors magazine and established Fabrica, a cutting-edge center for communication research. These ventures cemented his reputation as a visionary in the realm of visual storytelling. His bold and thought-provoking works garnered international acclaim and were showcased in prestigious museums and galleries worldwide.
Just last year, the Museum für Gestaltung in Zurich hosted the retrospective "Fotografie und Provocation" of Toscani’s career, which concluded on January 5, 2025, marking a poignant farewell to a lifetime of creative innovation.
Toscani leaves behind a legacy defined by his fearless commitment to challenging norms and using photography as a tool to provoke dialogue on pressing social and cultural issues.