An illustration of a nude figure standing in a doorway, draped in a US flag like a cape. They stand against a dark purple background with pale green rectangular panels and long, sharp shadows.

Love Emiliano Ponzi's award-winning covers for Charles Bukowski books (some NSFW)

Words: Rob Alderson
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Date: 31 January 2013; Work
Illustration

Anyone who’s ever read any Charles Bukowski knows it’s a fairly unforgiving experience. The brutalist bard of the stalled American Dream writes of drunks and dropouts, of seedy sex and unfulfilled potential, in a way that teeters on nihilism. To illustrate such a singular talent you need a creative with a similarly self-confident style, and Emiliano Ponzi certainly fits the bill. The artist has just won a gold medal at the Society of Illustrators New York for a series of Bukowski covers he did for Italian translations of the work, which communicate both the extraordinary books and the man behind them with atmospheric flair.

An illustration for a book cover featuring the text “Charles Bukowski” and “Compagno di sbronze”. Two figures lie slumped in a blue convertible car parked in a garage, surrounded by empty bottles. — Above
Emilano Ponzi: Charles Bukowski covers for Feltrinelli

An illustration for a book cover shows a person wearing sunglasses and a towel draped over their head, standing in a swimming pool. Below them, bold text reads “Charles Bukowski” and “Il Capitano è fuori a pranzo”. — Above
Emilano Ponzi: Charles Bukowski covers for Feltrinelli

An illustration for a book cover featuring a Ferris wheel against a green background. The text reads “Charles Bukowski”, “Quando eravamo giovani” and “Poesie I”. Two small figures sit together in one of the wheel's gondolas. — Above
Emilano Ponzi: Charles Bukowski covers for Feltrinelli

An illustration for a book cover featuring a nude figure with red hair smoking a cigarette. A single red rose grows from between their legs against a dark blue background. Text below the figure reads “Charles Bukowski” and “Storie di ordinaria follia”. Smaller text at the bottom includes “Erezioni Eiaculazioni Esibizioni” and the publisher “Universale Economica Feltrinelli”. — Above
Emilano Ponzi: Charles Bukowski covers for Feltrinelli

An illustration for a book cover featuring a person in striped shorts standing in a yard, holding a yellow hose. They stand before a white wooden building and a dark blue fence. The text reads “Charles Bukowski”, “Quel che importa è grattarmi sotto le ascelle” and “Fernanda Pivano intervista Charles Bukowski”. The publisher “Universale Economica Feltrinelli” is listed at the bottom. — Above
Emilano Ponzi: Charles Bukowski covers for Feltrinelli

An illustration for a book cover featuring a person lying in a coffin, smoking a cigarette. A skeleton in a red dress stands beside them. Text at the top reads “Charles Bukowski” and “Pulp”, with the subtitle “Una storia del XX secolo”. — Above
Emilano Ponzi: Charles Bukowski covers for Feltrinelli

A book cover for Charles Bukowski featuring a blue and white illustration. A figure lies in bed, surrounded by the floating profiles of several people and red dots. The Italian title reads “Scrivo poesie solo per portarmi a letto le ragazze”. — Above
Emilano Ponzi: Charles Bukowski covers for Feltrinelli

A book cover for Charles Bukowski’s “Hollywood, Hollywood!”. A figure in red, white and blue striped swimwear is crucified against a large, white letter “Y”. — Above
Emilano Ponzi: Charles Bukowski covers for Feltrinelli

A book cover for Charles Bukowski’s “Musica per organi caldi”, published by Universale Economica Feltrinelli. An illustration shows a naked figure draped in a US flag, standing in a parking lot outside a “Diner”. — Above
Emilano Ponzi: Charles Bukowski covers for Feltrinelli

Further Info

www.emilianoponzi.com

About the Author

Rob Alderson

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Rob Alderson is a freelance writer, editor and strategist. He was previously editor-in-chief of It’s Nice That and WePresent, and editor of Design Week. He publishes the newsletter Undo, which tries to make sense of how AI is changing design work, the design process and the design industry.

Love Emiliano Ponzi's award-winning covers for Charles Bukowski books (some NSFW)

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