FOCusof ARTIST

Designer
Profile
Mariapia Malerba
Photography by Indi Franco
Maria Pia Malerba was born in the Puglia region in
Southern Italy. She studied Art in high school and
then went on to study at Accademia di Belle Arti
a fine art institute. After earning her degree specializing
in scenography: set design and costume
history she went to Lake Como to become a text
tile designer. Maria Pia had the opportunity to
create textile designs for big fashion stylists like
Dolce Gabana, Versace and Cavalli. This was an
extraordinary time for her to grow as an artist.
For 12 years, she was continually inspired by new
trends. At the same time when she wasn’t creating
art on fabric, she was still painting Hyperrealism &
abstract artwork on canvas, stone or wood.
Here in Florida Maria Pia came into contact with
Dore whom is the business leader in ballroom dance
gown design. She was fascinated and inspired by
this new world. Maria Pia was born with this strong
per pension to research the beauty in life. Every
morning she would wake up with enthusiasm to
bring to life her ideas and create new things. Color,
objects and shapes fascinate her and she likes
to associate ideas and concepts that are very different
and put them together.
Maria Pia was in kindergarten when she started
painting. Her first oil painting was at age 12. She
painted almost every day of her life. Twenty years
later she was hired by a company to paint a Madonna
on stone for a gift for the Pope that now
is being displayed at the Vatican. She has been
showcased at various galleries all over Italy and
America. Winning 1st prize the “Raffaello Sanzio
award” in Rome in 2006. She's very eclectic; she
loves to paint abstractism as well as hyperrealism.
Her favorite Stylist/artist is Alexander McQueen.
She is in love with his theatrically extraordinary
gowns and genius vision. Right now she is creating
a collection on couture gowns that are made with
recycled materials like paper, plastic, foam etc.
www.maria-pia-art.com
116 FOCUS of SWFL 2013