Fashion photographer, Oliviero Toscani dies at 82!
Italian art director and fashion photographer, Oliviero Toscani has passed away. He was 82.
Oliviero Toscani is no more
13th January 2025 marked the last day of the famous Italian art director and fashion photographer, Oliviero Toscani. He was 82.
Oliviero’s wife, Kirsti posted on Instagram about his death in a statement:
“It is with great sorrow that we announce the news that today, 13 January 2025, our beloved Oliviero has embarked on his next journey,”
Oliviero had done several ad campaigns for Italian fashion company, United Colours of Benetton. Hence, they too released a statement as a tribute on his death that read:
“In order to explain certain things, words simply don’t suffice. You taught us that. And with that said, we’d like to pay tribute to you with a photo that you took for us many years ago, in 1989. Farewell Oliviero. Keep on dreaming,”
Accompanying this post was a photo that Oliviero had shot in 1989.
Moreover, the creator of fashion brand Valentino, Valentino Garavani wrote a tribute for Oliviero on his social media. He called Oliviero a great visionary who had managed to challenge the world via his lens. Further, he added that Oliviero has left a great mark on art, culture and in the world of photography.
Additionally, fashion designer Giorgio Armani too praised Oliviero calling him:
“Oliviero was an undisputed master of imagery and a communicator of unparalleled vivacity.”
The Mayor of Milan, Giuseppe Sala stated that Oliviero has left his impact in the world of image and communication.
Oliviero Toscani’s illness
The photographer was suffering from a chronic health condition that can be controlled but was incurable. He had amyloidosis.
In amyloidosis, abnormal proteins are deposited in the body organs and tissues. These are amyloid fibrils and they affect the functioning of the tissues and organs.
Oliviero had spoken to the Corriere della Sera newspaper in August 2024 where he revealed to people about his health condition. He also stated that he had lost around 40 kg of body weight due to this illness.
On 10th January 2025, the photographer was admitted at a hospital in Cecina, near to where he resided in his country home in Tuscan. His condition was stated to be serious at the time of hospitalization. Despite medicines, Oliviero succumbed to his disease three days later.
About Oliviero’s life and career
Oliviero was born on 27th February 1942 in Milan, Italy. His father, Fedele Toscani was a photojournalist. After Oliviero completed his art school studies from Zurich, he took training in photography under his father.
Oliviero worked for many leading glossy fashion magazines such as Elle, Vogue, GQ, Harper’s Bazaar and the like. His models included John Lennon, Italian film director, Federico Fellini, and American visual artist, Andy Warhol.
Oliviero has assisted models such as Monica Bellucci in reaching the heights of their career with his fine photography.
The departed soul had several eminent works on social themes such as death penalty, racism, AIDS, war etc. He worked extensively for United Colours of Benetton. His ad campaigns for this company were very bold and provocative. He was this company’ s art director from 1982 for 18 years. But his campaigns were controversial and gathered a lot of heated debates.
Oliviero was married to Kirsti. The couple has three children together: Rocco, Lola and Ali.
