Marco Biassoni

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Marco Biassoni

In 1930 he was born in Genoa where he begins the profession of graphic designer.

In 1956 he sets up the Studio Firma with Bernazzoli, Costantini, Luzzati, Piombino and Veruggio, working for Shell, Esso Italsider and other important companies. At the same time, he is also interested in the cinema, theatre and animation. In 1959 he creates “Lingottino”, his first comic strip character. In 1961 he moves to Milan, where he continues his graphic work and publishes in the daily paper “Il Giorno”, the strip “Prode Anselmo”, which in 1968 will be published in the United States by the Green Press. In 1964, he creates the famous “Elefantino” for the advertising campaign of Total.
For cinetelevisiva advertising, he is responsible both as producer and director for real life spots and for animation spots for big companies, such as Barilla, Perugina, Knorr, Total, Shell, Bertolli, Cynar etc. Amongst his publicity spots, the animated series “Re Artù” (King Arthur), created for Gran Pavesi become famous from 1964 to 1975, and will also be published as a cartoon strip by the “Corriere dei Piccoli,” together with his other character, “Cià Cià Pascià.” After 1969 he publishes a great many books with Feltrinelli, Heyne Verlag, Mondadori and Giunti.

He takes part in important Humour exhibitions, winning many prizes. His humour graphic works are published by Graphis, Pardon, Penthouse, Humour Graphic, Opus International, etc. In 1996 he is amongst the promoters of the project “Manifest of the Sign Writers.” In 1998 he is one of the founders of the National Association of Humorists contributing greatly to its activities. In 2000 he creates as a comic strip accompanied by verse, the charming story of Ermengarda, published as a volume and shown at the Arengario of Brescia on the occasion of an important Longobardi exhibition. At the beginning of 2002 he is in Genoa with his colleagues of former times for a retrospective show of the Studio Firma.
On 26th November 2002 Marco says goodbye to Milan and the world.

Carlo Squillante