Mario Magnatti (aka mariom)

Mariom, this is his stage name, was born in Gaeta on 8 September 1957. Since he was a child he has shown outstanding artistic skills that, over the years, he has always cultivated as a self-taught. After graduating from the Nautical Technical Institute (Cap) in 1976, he sailed as an officer in the Merchant Navy until 1982. In October 1984 he enlisted in the Guardia di Finanza. His unbridled love for art led him, with caricature and humorous drawing, to win his first national success in 1994 in Verbania. That was the springboard for a very fruitful artistic career, climbing the top steps of many international podiums, such as Argentina, Brazil, China, Turkey, Colombia, Iran… just to name a few. Among the many, the most important podium concerns the first prize received at the Chamber of Deputies in Rome, in 2011, for having participated in the international humor competition on the Unification of Italy, sponsored by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. Also in 1996 he was awarded the "Golden Date" at the International Humor Biennial in Salò, whose jury was chaired by the legendary Cavandoli, father of the "Omino Linea". In 2015 he won the Gallarate international humor competition, dedicated to the Milan Expo, where over 400 artists from 26 nations took part and in 2017 the very important international success at the WHA World Humor Award in Salsomaggiore Terme, organized by invitation, which saw him on the second step of the podium. In 2016 he participated in the III National Gathering of caricaturists in Spain as a special guest. There are numerous affirmations at the sector competitions - online, on Facebook (CARICATURAMA S. 3000 - CARICATUMANIA - INT. CARICATURE INDIA…).
Even in the field of painting he did not go unnoticed by the critics of the sector, obtaining many awards and acclaim in numerous exhibitions. This year, in November, he completed the creation of seven mega canvases that will remaining exhibited in a chapel in his city. In 2016, he received the Appointment of Official Painter of the Italian Navy, for merit, at the Marine Command of Rome. He has been a Knight of the Constantinian Order of St. George since 2015.