b. 1968, Andria, Italy Lives and works in Andria, Italy Mario Matera is a versatile and enigmatic Italian artist whose multifaceted journey spans painting, illustration, graphic design, photography, and cinema. He began painting at age 13 and experimented with illustration, caricature, and design by his late teens, later directing visuals for commercials and short films. In 1990, he founded the Mario Matera Group, where he continues as creative director and photographer. Matera’s artistic technique has progressively evolved—from dense pencil drawings to richly layered surfaces applied using palette knives with expressive, kinetic strokes. He is most recognized for his “Chaos” and “Golden” series, which feature portraits composed of sharp, fragmented details in controlled disarray. These works evoke introspection and invite meditative engagement through their complex, emotionally charged textures. The “Golden” series, in particular, draws conceptual inspiration from the Japanese art of Kintsugi, using fractured forms to explore themes of resilience and transformation. Matera’s work continues to attract international attention, with exhibitions in cities such as Venice, Berlin, Moscow, and Bangalore, positioning him as a profound creative voice in contemporary art.