In 1913, Baldessari began his career as a visual artist after studying in the Scuola Reale Elisabettiana.

He participated in the Futurist movement among contemporaries including Fortunato Depero.

[2][3] In 1923 Baldessari moved to Berlin where he worked as a set designer.

In 1926, he returned to Milan and began his career in rationalist architecture.

During this period, Baldessari designed a number of influential buildings including the Bernocchi Pavilion at the 10th International Fair of Milan and the Craja Bar in Milan (in collaboration with Luigi Figini, and Gino Pollini, Fausto Melotti and Marcello Nizzoli).