Illustrators for Gianni Rodari. Italian Excellence

The year 2020 marked exactly one hundred years since the birth of Gianni Rodari on 23 October 1920, a fact well worth celebrating. Bologna Children’s Book Fair aimed to commemorate this anniversary by remembering the creativity of Italy’s first author to win the prestigious Hans Christian Andersen Award (in 1970), and one of the most innovative and influential children’s writers of the twentieth century. 

Rodari’s works, many of which are still in print today, have been reinterpreted by some truly great illustrators. In fact, following the evolution of this idea, and in continuity with the exhibition Italian Excellence created in 2015 and presented to great acclaim in more than 10 countries, Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the Emilia-Romagna regional administration and the Italian Cultural Institute of Culture of San Francisco, with the collaboration of the Italian Consulate, promoted a new edition of the exhibition, fully devoted to Gianni Rodari.

Illustrators for Gianni Rodari. Italian Excellence represents a sort of timeline of Italian illustration, exhibiting original works by 21 illustrators who are recognised as mainstays of Italian design and illustration, such as Bruno Munari and Emanuele Luzzati, as well as great contemporary artists. 

The full list includes: Bruno Munari, Emanuele Luzzati, Altan, Beatrice Alemagna, Gaia Stella, Olimpia Zagnoli, Manuel Fior, Alessandro Sanna, Valerio Vidali, Simona Mulazzani, Chiara Armellini, Anna Laura Cantone, Fulvio Testa, Maria Chiara Di Giorgio, Giulia Orecchia, Nicoletta Costa, Federico Maggioni, Francesca Ghermandi, Pia Valentinis, Elenia Beretta and Vittoria Facchini.

The exhibition and catalogue - published by Einaudi Ragazzi, owner of the publishing rights for Rodari's work – are curated by the Cooperativa Giannino Stoppani/Accademia Drosselmeier.

After the inaugural venue at the Art Museum of Portland, USA, the Exhibition moved to the Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco.