For its 32nd edition, ItalfestMTL, with the support of the Italian Cultural Institute of Montreal, presents the Viva Vittorio conference, featuring the works of Vittorio Fiorucci—a talented illustrator, photographer, and Canada’s most renowned poster artist from the 1960s to the early 2000s, by Marc H. Choko.
Tuesday, August 11th 2026 at 6pm
Istituto Italiano di Cultura 1200 Dr. Penfield, Montréal
Free admission, RVSP required
Like many poor young Italians, Vittorio Fiorucci decided to leave his country after World War II. He initially thought about moving to Australia, but it was ultimately Canada that welcomed him. Arriving in Montreal in 1951 at the age of 19, he spoke neither French nor English. This was as good a reason as any to dive into photography and comic strips. Later, thanks to his natural ability to connect with clients, he began creating magazine illustrations, newsletters, brochures, and corporate reports.
Vittorio was completely self-taught. His early graphic works are generally abstract and composed of simple geometric shapes, sometimes possessing a certain naivety. However, he already showed a great sense of color. By the mid-1960s, through his poster production, his style asserted itself: shapes broke free, and bold, flat colors caught the eye. His style became instantly recognizable. His works—sometimes irreverent, even provocative, but never vulgar—were accessible to all audiences. They quickly took center stage in his career, earning him national and international recognition for his talent.
While earning a living through contracts from companies like Québecair and Le Château boutiques, Vittorio associated with modernist artists such as Guido Molinari, Robert Roussil, and Armand Vaillancourt, for whom he created powerful posters. Starting in the 1960s, he worked for theaters and the Montreal International Film Festival. Later, the National Arts Centre and the Opéra de Montréal called upon his talent, as did the Just for Laughs Festival when it was created in 1983. From then on, commissions from Montreal’s artistic and cultural scene poured in. At the same time, Vittorio created advocacy posters for causes close to his heart, including the displaced people of Mirabel, popular education, ecology, and the Léa Roback Foundation.
Discover the full festival program : Lista degli eventi | ItalfestMTL
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