Mario Arlati was born in Milan in 1947. After some irregular years of study, he completed his artistic training at the School of Art of Castello Sforzesco in Milan. Early in his career, he produced figurative works, but by the late 1970s, during a stay in Ibiza, Spain, he discovered a new artistic path. His time in the Balearic Islands marked a turning point, as he gradually moved away from traditional figuration toward material informalism, heavily influenced by Spanish art and the island’s vibrant light and textures.
Mario Arlati
Among his most iconic series are:
“Walls”, which are monochromatic or subtly toned canvases with layered textures that evoke aged, weathered walls, featuring cracks and worn surfaces that suggest the passage of time.
The “Rags” (Stracci or Trapos) series, in which he uses salvaged fabric painted and shaped into expressive, tactile compositions with flowing color and pronounced material presence.
“Incomplete Flags”, a conceptual series inspired in part by Jasper Johns, where national flags are intentionally left unfinished, inviting the viewer to complete them mentally and reflect on perception and identity.
Arlati divides his time between Milan and Ibiza. Since 2001, he has been exclusively represented by Contini Art Gallery in Venice and Cortina d’Ampezzo.