Oliviero Berni was born in Milan, where he currently lives and works.

From 1952 to 1956 he attended the Art School at Castello Sforzesco and then Brera in Milan. In the early sixties (1960-65) he completed his artistic training with studies in the field of abstract-geometrical art at Maestro Mario Radice’s Art Studio in Como. During this time, he developed his interests in various visual arts. He held exhibitions in galleries and collaborated permanently with Fratelli Fabbri Publishing Groups as Art Director.

In 1973 he painted cover illustrations for the complete series of “1 Classici del Giallo” (Classics of Misery) published by Arnoldo Mondadori Editore. From 1972 to 1980, he held several personal exhibitions of European illustrators held in Munich, he became well known in Germany. Since then he has been working for various German publishers such as Goldman, Heyne, and Hohenheim.

In 1981 he moved to the United States, where he painted for the most important American publishers. Ballantine, Berkley, Bantam, Dell, Zebra and Warner were some of his clients. During this time of intense work he also began some commissioned portraits. In 1985 he went back to Italy, where he keeps collaborating as illustrator and painter with the most prominent publishers, both Italian and foreign. He also continues his artwork of portraits and other favorite subjects.