Una mattina in pineta (2023) Painting by Gianni Mattu

Giovanni Battista Mattu, known professionally as Gianni Mattu, was born in the province of Nuoro, Sardinia. From a young age, he demonstrated a strong aptitude for drawing and painting, drawing inspiration from Renaissance works, Impressionists, the Macchiaioli, and early twentieth-century Sardinian artists.

His artistic journey began in earnest in the 1990s, when he collaborated with other artists on murals in Fonni, Nuoro. His first solo exhibition took place in Alghero in 2001, where he began signing his work as Gianni Mattu. Over the years, he has participated in numerous exhibitions both in Italy and internationally, including the "Artistes du Monde" in Cannes (2015), the Rome Triennale in 2016, and the Padova International Art Fair in 2018. He has also won several awards, including the third international Arcaista Tarquinia prize.

Mattu’s work is characterized by continuous exploration and a desire to merge painting with diverse materials. Initially, he focused on oil on canvas using a spatula, producing expressionist works that blend figures, landscapes, and portraits. Notably, he created a series depicting children's games and traditional Sardinian costumes, reflecting the cultural significance of manual skills and socialization.

As his career progressed, Mattu experimented with unconventional surfaces such as sand, cardboard, and used jute bags, incorporating these elements into his acrylic and oil paintings to convey experience and time. His innovative approach includes integrating dried prickly pears and resin-coated carasau bread into his artworks, symbolizing Sardinian traditions. His fascination with mosaic techniques has led him to combine marble tiles, paint, and other natural fragments like cork.

Mattu also explores new pictorial supports, including concrete and oxidized sheet metal, where rust becomes an integral part of his work. This ongoing experimentation reflects his commitment to creating art that communicates emotions and stories through unique and unexpected mediums.

• Nationality: ITALY
• Date of birth : unknown date
• Artistic domains:
• Groups: Contemporary Italian Artists