Draft:Alberto Baccari



Alberto Baccari (born 1952) is an Italian American art director, graphic designer, product designer, painter, filmmaker and writer.

Early life and education
Baccari was born in Rome, Italy in 1952. His father, Ernest Baccari, was a theatrical entrepreneur and his mother, Marisa Basilio, was a housewife who enjoyed painting and playing the accordion and pianoforte at an early age. He studied psychology at the University of Padua in Italy and, while there, wrote over 200 hundred murder mystery stories for a famous Italian comics magazine, Intrepido. During the time he also designed Zot; a large multi-configuration table that received an award at La Triennale di Milano.

In 1976, after his father's sudden death, Baccari had to support his mother and siblings. With help from an acquaintance, he was able to become a real estate agent. He secured his family’s financial stability, but he did not like the job. Selling condos was not his ideal vocation. That’s when he decided to return to his creative work. In 1981 he went to Japan to find work. But a friend from Switzerland named Fritz, who was a famous art director working in Milano, suggested that he get involved in the advertising industry. Within two weeks Baccari designed and printed a series of T-shirts fashioned like an “Adult” classified ads. Amongst the various “offers” was his name circled in red with the headline: “Copywriter Wanted.” He had them sent to top Creative Directors of the advertising business. The stunt proved successful. Two days later, he was hired at Italia/BBDO, the most creative Agency at the time. Nonetheless, his dream was always to go abroad.

In 1983, with few savings, he decided to move to New York where he studied film at New York University. Around the 1990s, Baccari had his first exhibit featuring oil on canvas in New York. In 1999 he moved his family to Los Angeles, California.

Career
Baccari has developed award-winning creative communication  strategies, commercials, logo design and graphics for many premier brands worldwide, working in Tokyo, London, Barcelona, Los Angeles, Turin, Milan and New York. He worked with E&J Gallo, Barilla, Philip Morris, Paul Stuart, Prenatal, Davide Cenci, Fubu, Fila, Bacardi, Swatch, Lavazza (France and US), Casual Corner (USA), Burger King, Prudential, IBM, Louis Rich, Clairol, Bain de Soleil, Johnnie Walker, Halston, Campari, Lucky Strike, Longines, Anne Klein, Italian Automobile Club (ACI), Gant, BMW, San Pellegrino, Autodromo di Monza, Wally Yacht.

In 1985, he helped to open Armando Testa International, the first Italian ad agency in New York as the Executive V.P. Creative Director. In 1992, he did freelance work for Ogilvy & Mather. He then freelanced for J. Walter Thompson, Ayer, D'Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles, and CME-KHBB. In 2006, he founded TW2, a group of International strategic thinkers. In 2010, he taught at IED Istituto Europeo di Design. He has also worked on countless art projects and has a selection of his work in a permanent exhibit (Musée des Arts Décoratifs) at the Louvre Museum in Paris. His first exhibit of oil on canvas paintings occurred in the ‘90s. He has had exhibitions of his paintings in New York, London, Berlin and one in Florence. In 1993 he started his collaboration with film director Gianfranco Rosi in designing posters for his documentaries like Boatman, Below Sea Level, El Sicario Room 164, Sacro GRA, Fire at Sea (Fuocoammare), Notturno and In Viaggio of 2022. He was chosen to represent Italy, as a Juror for Design at Cannes Lions Advertising Festival in 2009.

Baccari has spent much time working in Tokyo, London, Barcelona, Los Angeles, Turin, Milan and New York. Currently Alberto is working on a historical painting project about The Eunuchs of the Ottoman Empire (1299 - 1923) a mix between archives history and fiction that includes portraits and the lives of 15 Eunuchs that lived throughout the centuries. His latest project is to create large scale puzzle majolica inserts (ceramics) from his paintings on canvas.

Baccari has twice been featured in The New York Times for media and advertising. Once in 1988 and again in 1990.

Personal life
In 1985, at a Swedish party in New York, he met the love of his life, Deane. He lives with Deane and his two sons between New York and Milan.

== Awards and Nominations == ● The Clio Award

● The British Television Award

● Cannes Film Festival Cannes Lion

● The One Show

● The NY Art Directors Club

● D&AD (British AD’s Club)

● LaTriennale di Milano (Industrial design)

● Ad Age Award

● ADCI

● Graphics Gold Award

● Communication Arts Ad Annual 3

● Andy Award