Fortunato Depero

Fortunato Depero (Fondo, 1892 Rovereto, 1960) was one of the most extraordinary and multifaceted artists of the twentieth century, transforming Futurism into a true philosophy of life, design, and communication. After moving to Rome and his decisive encounter with Giacomo Balla, in 1915 he signed the revolutionary manifesto "Futurist Reconstruction of the Universe." The goal was ambitious: to bring art out of museums and into everyday life. Depero did not limit himself to painting; he created theatrical sets, visionary costumes, and experimented with his famous patchwork "tapestries." In 1919, he founded his Casa d’Arte Futurista in Rovereto, a pioneering hub of design, furniture, and graphics. A pioneer of advertising as an artistic expression, he associated his name with historic brands. His most famous collaboration was with Campari, for which he designed the iconic Campari Soda bottle in the shape of an inverted cone in 1932, as well as posters that made the history of visual design. In 1927, he published "Depero Futurista," known as the "Bulled Book," a masterpiece of editorial graphics held together by mechanical bolts. Immediately afterward, he ventured to New York (19281930): the city of skyscrapers captivated him, and there he worked as a costume designer for Broadway and a cover artist for magazines such as Vogue and Vanity Fair. Upon returning to Italy, he continued to produce until his death, leaving the first Italian Futurist museum in Rovereto.