24 March 1935 – 29 September 2006, was an Italian photographer, photojournalist, and visual communicator born in Brescia, Italy. After studying at the Brera Academy in Milan, he began his professional career in the 1950s as a graphic designer and advertising designer. In 1955 he opened a studio in Brescia, working on advertising campaigns, exhibitions, and interior design projects.

In the late 1960s he turned increasingly toward photography following a stay in London. This experience led to the photobook London by Gian Butturini (1969), which documented everyday life in the British capital through images of migrants, demonstrations, street scenes, and nightlife. The book combined documentary photography with experimental graphic design, including quotations by Allen Ginsberg and Robert Capa and dynamic page layouts.

During the 1970s his work addressed political and social themes. He produced reportages and books on subjects including Cuba, Northern Ireland after Bloody Sunday, and Chile. In 1975 he was invited by psychiatrist Franco Basaglia to document psychiatric institutions in Italy during the reform movement that led to the Basaglia Law.

Alongside photography he also directed documentary films on labor struggles, social change, and psychiatric reform. His work combined photography, graphic design, and filmmaking while maintaining a strong focus on social and political issues.

Reference
Biography text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA), Italian edition. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gian_Butturini