Oliviero Toscani, Visionary Photographer Behind Provocative Benetton Ads, Dies at 82

The Italian photographer, renowned for using advertising to address social issues, passed away from amyloidosis on January 13, 2025.

Oliviero Toscani, famous for his groundbreaking and controversial campaigns for Benetton, died at the age of 82 from the rare disease amyloidosis.
Toscani redefined advertising by addressing topics like AIDS, racism, capital punishment, and anorexia, often sparking global conversations on these issues.
His campaigns included iconic images such as a nun kissing a priest, a dying AIDS patient, and Death Row inmates, blending art with social commentary.
Toscani's collaboration with Benetton, which lasted nearly two decades, ended in 2000 following backlash to a campaign on capital punishment and later controversies, including remarks about the Genoa bridge collapse in 2020.
Beyond his work with Benetton, Toscani was a passionate advocate for humanism, diversity, and challenging societal norms, leaving a lasting legacy in the photography and advertising worlds.