Mattia Barbalaco, born in Vibo Valentia in Calabria in 1999, attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome where he recently graduated in Painting with distinction.
A storyteller of unquestionable technical prowess, Barbalaco immerses the viewer in a narrative where multiple strands mysteriously unfold, often amid a variety of props and animals. It is unclear what exactly is happening and the action can be baffling, but there is always the sense that however disturbing, complex or sexually charged the atmosphere, the viewer can recognise the emotions at play.