CV/Bio
Mario Giuseppe Santoro is a self-taught artist with a sincere passion for fine art.
Born in Foggia, Italy, he has been a New York resident since 1988. His work reflects his eclectic personality, ranging from realism, cubism and modern art. Some of his commission work includes a series of cubism original paintings, created between 1996 and 1997, displayed at Cafe` Picasso in Williston Park, New York. During 1997, he also worked on 4 large paintings depicting an imaginary galaxy, commissioned and displayed at Cafe` Portofino Beyond 2000 in Huntington, New York. Since then, force-taken by financial reasons, in exchange for a more stable and steady income, Mario began working as cake decorator. His time to paint was greatly reduced, and for about a decade the art supply was stored away. The desire to get back behind the easel and improve his art skills, was finally made possible in 2007. Mario attended some classes at The Stevenson Academy Of Fine Arts in Oyster Bay, New York. For a short term, guided by the founder artist Attila Hejja (well known for his outstanding illustration works done for NASA, the Air Force, and Grumman Corporation, just to name a few), he studied the fundamentals of drawing and oil painting based on classical methods. Due to the sudden death of Mr. Hejja, Mario continued to take some classes in classical figure studies at the Long Island Academy Of Fine Art in Glen Cove, New York, taught by the artist Robert Armetta, founder of LIAFA. The opportunity to paint again came about thanks to a call for artists to paint live while live music performed at Live Art Fusion events on Long Island, NY. During these events, Mario created several paintings using mainly primary colors on black canvas, with fast and bold brush strokes that captured the vibe of the moment. At present time, Mario continues working with fondant, chocolate and other bakery ingredients creating special occasion and custom cake designs. Thanks to his father who once was a pastry artist himself, Mario at a young age was able to learn the basic craft and use his talent in the pastry artistry as well. Most recently in 2017 and few years before that, he has participated in American Art Awards, an online juried art competition, group and solo exhibition, some in Huntington, New York, where he resides with his wife and two daughters.
Exhibits - Competitions
2017 - American Art Awards - Online Juried Art Competition - Awarded in three categories - 2nd place in Cubism - 4th place in Expressionism - 6th place in Futurism
2017 - The Black Canvas Collection - solo exhibition - Syosset Public Library Gallery ~Syosset, New York
2016 - American Art Awards - Online Juried Art Competition - Awarded 6th place in Realism Landscape
2016 - Members Spotlight - Group Show - Petite Art Gallery ~ Huntington, New York
2015 - American Art Awards - Online Juried Art Competition - Awarded in three categories - 1st place in Cubism - 1st place in Orientalism Still Life - 6th place In Realism Still Life
2014 - Art After Dark - Group Show - Art Leaque Of Long Island, Dix Hills, New York
2014 - Artmosphere - Grop Show - Vanderbilt Planetarium, Centerport, New York
2013 - A Personal Sound And Colors Experience - solo show - Harborfields Public Library Gallery, Greenlawn, New York
2012 - Art After Dark - Group Show - Art League Of Long Island, Dix Hills, New York
2010 - Portrait Juried Show - Main Street Petite Gallery, Huntington, New York
2010 - Master Show - Main Street Petite Gallery, Huntington, New York
2009 - Still Life Juried Show - Main Street Petite Gallery, Huntington, New York ~ honorable mention awarded
2008 - Solo Show - Harborfields Public Library Gallery, Greenlawn, New York
2007 - Group Show - Harborfields Public Library Gallery, Greenlawn, New York
1995 - Long Island Art Fair - Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, New York