Severo POZZATI (SEPO)

Severo Pozzati, also known under the pseudonym 'Sepo' was an Italian painter and sculptor.
He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna, where he graduated in 1913 and received the ‘Sculpture Prize from the Ministry of Public Education’.
In 1921 Sepo moved to Paris and took over the direction of the Parisian branch of the celebrated advertising agency 'Maga' of Bologna.
During that time, he still realised orders for sculptures abroad.
In 1925, he received the ‘gold medal for advertising design’ at the Universal Exhibition of Decorative Arts in Paris.
Sepo was principally inspired by Leonetto Cappiello, Cassandre and the Cubism of Pablo Picasso. In 1926, Pozzati left 'Maga' to work with several other advertising agencies such as 'Star', 'Publivox' in Geneva, 'Ricordi' in Milan and even 'Chapuis' in Bologna. It acquired an international reputation, notably for his posters for companies such as 'Noveltex', 'Amieux', 'La Régie Française des Tabacs', 'Lustucru' or 'Picon'.
After living 38 years in France, Sepo returned to Italy in 1957 where he founded in Bologna a school of advertising art (Scuola d’Arte Pubblicitaria). He also became a member of the honorary committee for Leonetto Cappiello, who died in 1942.