Mercante

My work lives in the tension between figuration and abstraction. Figures and landscapes emerge from, or dissolve into, heavily textured fields — present as memory rather than subject, expressive and atmospheric, rooted in loss and transformation. The surface carries its own history: built up, eroded, scarred. That transformation is deliberate — a reflection of inevitable change, of what remains once time and experience have done their work. Layered in acrylic paint, charcoal, mixed media, and resin, each original painting shifts with light and angle, revealing new depth and detail.

About me
I was trained in figurative arts in Italy, where I am originally from. First in Vicenza, the city of Palladio, then in Venice at the Liceo Artistico, and later at the Accademia delle Belle Arti. After my studies, I worked under the tutelage of Flavio Polloniato, a renowned trompe l’oeil artist. Following this formative experience, I built a successful career as a designer before life eventually led me on other exciting paths. I only return to painting recently to finally pursue my passion, under my own terms and with unconditional devotion. 

A note
Much of my work is highly tactile and reflective—its appearance shifts with the light, the angle, and the position of the viewer. As a result, still images can only partially capture its evolving, dimensional nature. For some pieces, I’ve included video to offer a closer sense of the surface and depth, though even this remains limited by the constraints of 2D media.