Mario Loprete, born in Catanzaro, Italy in 1968, is a contemporary artist who blends painting and sculpture in a unique way. A graduate of the Accademia di Belle Arti in Catanzaro, Loprete uses everyday materials like cement and plaster to explore deep themes such as memory, identity, and city life.

Art That Speaks Through Materials
Loprete’s choice of materials is not just about how they look, it’s also about what they mean. Cement is strong and lasting, symbolizing memories that stay with us over time. Plaster, which is softer and more fragile, represents the delicate and temporary nature of human life. His work often includes graffiti-like elements, inspired by street art. These messages, usually short-lived in the real world, are preserved in his art, creating a conversation between what disappears and what remains.

Sculptures That Tell Stories
Many of Loprete’s sculptures show faces or parts of the human body. They look like ancient relics, but they tell modern stories. He uses mixed techniques to build textured surfaces that invite viewers to think about who we are and where we come from. One of his most powerful methods is using his own clothes to make art. He covers them in plaster, resin, and cement, turning them into wall sculptures. These pieces hold his personal history, his DNA, his memories, and invite viewers to become like archaeologists, discovering the stories hidden inside.

Art During Hard Times
Between 2020 and 2022, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Loprete created sculptures using the clothes he wore during that time. These garments, now sealed in cement, reflect the fear, sadness, and uncertainty many people felt. He compares them to the remains found in Pompeii – objects that survived disaster and now help us understand the past.

A Passion for Painting and Sculpture
Loprete describes painting as his first love—a pure and important part of his artistic life. Sculpture, he says, is like a lover – exciting, emotional, and sometimes risky. This playful comparison shows how deeply he feels about both forms of art and how they each give him different ways to express himself.

Final Thoughts
Mario Loprete’s art invites us to think about our lives in the city, the memories we carry, and the things we leave behind. By using simple materials in creative ways, he turns everyday objects into powerful works of art. His pieces are not just beautiful, they are meaningful, emotional, and full of stories waiting to be discovered.