MATTEO SOLTANTO  |  BIOGRAPHY + CV
.
Matteo Soltanto was born in 1972 in Turin, Italy. In 1993 he graduates from the Bologna Academy of Fine Arts. From that moment on, he started a pictorial path that, from an original analysis of the physionomies (Portraits' cycle) brought him to a maximum level of rarefaction and synthesis of the shape (Suspensions' cycle) and from there to the current Nudes, in which the two early worlds meet in a continuous fade-in/fade-out of bodies, fluctuating in the space.

Matteo Soltanto has had various personal exhibitions, and been invited to take part in numerous collective ones. In addition to his painting, he has been appreciated for his theatrical set designs for important theatres (Teatro Stabile, Genoa; Nuova Scena / Arena del Sole, Teatro Stabile, Bologna; Teatro Stabile d'Abruzzo; TeatroVivo, Cotignola (Ravenna); La Pirandelliana, Rome; La Contemporanea 83, Rome; Russian Drama Theatre, Ufa Russia); set-installations (Pitti Immagine, Florence - MTV, Milan - Lo Studio, Milan); illustrations (Hystrio, Ed.Ricordi, Milan - Ed. Abele Group, Turin) and graphic design. He has been teaching History of Theater at the Brera Academy of Fine Art in Milan. Winner of the “Morlotti” National Art Prize 2001, his exhibitions have been curated by Monica Baldessari, Roberto Cresti, Marina Pizziolo, Nadia Raimondi, Alessandro Sibilia, Giorgio Seveso. His work has been published in Arteincontro (Bocca Library, Milan), Con-fine, New York Arts, Collezioni Edge (Ed.Logos), Arte e Dossier (Ed.Giunti, Florence), Arte (Ed.G.Mondadori, Milan), Hystrio (Ed.Ricordi, Milan). He currently lives in an old cinema of the 20's, lost in the foggy countryside near Bologna, Italy. 
PERSONAL EXHIBITIONS
.
2007 - Nudes, Libreria Bocca, Milan.
2006 - The game of the four rooms, Casa Rossini, Lugo (Ravenna, Italy).
2002 - Portraits, La Scène Quai Est, Ivry sur Seine (France).
2002 - Suspensions, Chiostro di San Francesco, San Giovanni in Persiceto (Bologna).
2001 - Suspensions, XXth Century Italian Art Generations "Bargellini" Museum, Pieve di Cento (Italy).
2000 - Windy, Lo Studio, Milan.
1999 - Suspensions, Globe Fashion, Milan.
1999 - Suspensions, M-B Spot, Bologna.
1997 - Portraits, Torre di Santo Stefano, Molinella (Italy).
.
COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS
.
2011 - 13x17 / Padiglione Italia, curated by Philippe Daverio and Jean Blanchaert (Bologna, Palazzo Fava).
2011 - The Merchant of Dreams, Primo Piano LivinGallery, Lecce (Italy).
2010 - Artefiera, Bologna Art Fair (Grafiche IncisioneArte - Corbetta, Milano). 
2009 - Art Verona 2009, Grafique Art Gallery, Bologna.
2009 - Rossoblu, Grafique Art Gallery, Bologna.
2009 - Artefiera, Bologna Art Fair (Grafiche IncisioneArte - Corbetta, Milano). 
2008 - Art Verona 2008, Grafique Art Gallery, Bologna.
2008 - Con il corpo capisco, Grafique Art Gallery, Bologna.
2008 - Artefiera, Bologna Art Fair (Grafiche IncisioneArte - Corbetta, Milano). 
2008 - La collana bianca si colora / Einaudi Point Forli’ & Roccolo Castle, Busca (Italy). 
2007 - Miart, Milan Art Fair (Grafiche IncisioneArte - Corbetta, Milan).
2005/06/07 - 13x17 / Padiglione Italia, curated by Philippe Daverio, Santa Cristina Church, Bologna; Studio MIC, Rome; Berengo Studio, Murano. PK Building, Politecnico di Milano and S.Severo al Pendino Church, Napoli. San Gallo Church, Venice; Lanificio Pria, Biella; Museo della Provincia of Potenza; Milan Politecnico.
2006 - Artemisia Prize 2006, finalists show, Galleria Atelier dell'Arco Amoroso, Ancona.
2006 - Bau bau, Galleria 42 Contemporaneo, Modena.
2005 - Morlotti Prize (Silver medal), Imbersago's Mediateque (Lecco).
2004 - Fenice et des Artistes Prize (3rd Prize), Hotel La Fenice et des Artistes, Venice.
2004 - Il mito della Fenice, Arsenale di Verona.
2004 - Candidato designato, Galleria 42 Contemporaneo, Modena. 
2004 - Scandaglio, Morlotti Prize winners exhibition, Imbersago's Mediateque (Lecco).
2003 - God bye Gombola, S.Michele Arcangelo Church, Gombola (Modena).
2003 - De te fabula, the contemporary self-portrait, Palazzo dei Convegni, Jesi.
2003 - De te fabula, the contemporary self-portrait, Pinacoteca Civica and Palazzo Galeotti, Macerata. 
2002 - Works on paper, Studio Tommaseo, Trieste. 
2002 - 100 heads for Giovanni Macchia, S.Michele Arcangelo Church, Gombola (Modena)
2002 - Biennale Postumia Giovani 2002, Modern Art Museum, Gazoldo degli Ippoliti (Mantova).
2002 - Biennale Postumia Giovani 2002, Floriano Bodini Museum, Gemonio (Varese).
2002 - Leggerezza, Artemisia - Sermedia Officina Creativa, Cernusco S/N (Milan).
2002 - Persona (Portraits), Galleria 42 Contemporaneo, Modena.
2002 - Reactions, Exit Art, New York.
2001 - Morlotti Prize (winner), Imbersago's Town Hall (Lecco). 
2000 - Vaison Italienne, Éspace Burrhus, Vaison La Romaine (France).
1999 - Parallele waves, Creftow Art & Craft, Helston (UK).
1998 - Arteinspot, M-B Spot, Bologna.
1997 - Portraits, Exhibitions Building, Rimini.
1997 - Portraits, Cavallerizza Hall, Piacenza.
1996 - Figurs and figurations, Arena del Sole, Bologna.
1994 - Images from Monte Sole, Giorgio Morandi Center, Grizzana Morandi (Bo).
1994 - Podestà Hall, Re Enzo Palace, Bologna.
.
SET DESIGNS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES
.
2011 - Set design for Tante belle cose (Many beautiful things), by Edoardo Erba. With Maria Amelia Monti, Gianfelice Imparato, Valerio Santoro, Carlina Torta. Direction, Alessandro D'Alatri, prod. La Pirandelliana and L'Incredibile srl.
2011 - Set design for Miles Gloriosus, by Titus Maccius Plautus. With Vanessa Incontrada. Direction, Cristiano Roccamo. Prod. Plautus Festival 2011, TeatroVivo, Comune di Sarsina.
2011 - Set design for Scenes from a marriage, by Ingmar Bergman. Adaptation and direction, Alessandro D'Alatri. With Daniele Pecci and Federica Di Martino. Prod. Teatro Stabile d'Abruzzo.
2010 - Set design for Motel, written and directed by Gabriele Tesauri - (From "Free Exchange Hotel" by Georges Feydeau). Arte e Salute Onlus Company / Arena del Sole Theater, Bologna.
2010 - Digital set design for Il fanciullo allegro, by and with Vittorio Franceschi. "Alessandra Galante Garrone Theater School", Bologna. Arena del Sole Theater, Bologna.
2009 - Set design and costumes for The Miser, by Molière. Direction: Paolo Emilio Landi. With the Russian Drama Theatre Company. Russian Drama Theatre, Ufa, Bashkortostan (Russia). 
2009 - Set design for A corpo morto, written and staged by Vittorio Franceschi. Direction: Marco Sciaccaluga. Masks and costumes: Werner Strub; music: Andrea Nicolini; light design: Sandro Sussi. Prod. Teatro Stabile di Genova. (Teatro Duse, Genova, 15 aprile / 3 maggio 2009).
2009 - Set design for The one of the radio. Marconi, the history of the man who changed the world, written and staged by Giorgio Comaschi. (Duse Theater, Bologna, March 2009 - Production: Procope Studio).
2009/(2007) - Theater sets and costumes for the play Dialogue with the buried alive, by and with Vittorio Franceschi, directed by Marla Moffa, music by Germano Mazzocchetti. (Rome, Argot Theater, May 2007; Duse Theater, Bologna. January 2009. Prod. Procope Studio / Daphne's Smile).
2008 - Theater sets for De rerum natura, from Lucretius. Directed by Gabriele Tesauri. Arena del Solte Theater, Bologna. (Arte e Salute Onlus).
2007 - Theater sets and costumes for the play Teaching plays, by Bertolt Brecht, directed by Gabriele Tesauri. (Nuova Scena - Arena del Sole, InterAction Hall, Bologna. In collaboration with Art and Health Onlus).
2005 - Theater sets for the play Daphne's smile, written by Vittorio Franceschi and directed by Alessandro D'Alatri. (Nuova Scena - Arena del Sole, Teatro Stabile di Bologna).
2002 - Theater sets for the play Gege's Arc, written and directed by Vittorio Franceschi. (La Contemporanea 83; Teatro Due, Rome 2002).
2002 - Set installation Windy for Sermedia Creative Factory, Cernusco S/N (Milan).
2001 - installation/set for the TV magazine MTV Rocks, MTV Channel, Milan.
1999/2000 He has been teaching History of Theatre at the Brera Academy of Fine Art, Milan.
1999 - Set installation for Pitti Immagine, Fortezza da Basso, Florence.
1998 - Set installation Windy for Lo Studio, Milan.
1997 - Draws the illustrations for Virginia Galante Garrone’s children’s book La Maccabea (Gruppo Abele Editions, Turin).
1995 - Draws Vittorio Franceschi’s text Jack the gut opener (HYSTRIO, n.2/1995 - Ricordi Editions - Milan).
1994 - Theater sets and costumes for Lager, memories from the death camps, texts by P.Levi, directed by Vittorio Franceschi. (Bologna, Teatro Testoni/InterAction 1994 - Arena del Sole, Teatro Stabile di Bologna 1997).
.
PRIZES
.
2006 - Selected artist at Artemisia Prize (Ancona, Italy).
2006 - Selected artist at Citta' di Fondi Prize (Fondi, Italy).
2006 - Winner of the Frattini Prize for graphics.
2005 - Second Prize and Silver Medal at Morlotti Art Prize (Imbersago, Lecco, Italy).
2004 - Selected artist at Movimento Art Prize, Bocca Library, Milan.
2004 - Third Prize at La Fenice et des Artistes Art Prize, Venice.
2001 - Winner of the Morlotti Art Prize (Imbersago, Lecco, Italy)
    MATTEO SOLTANTO - Artist and set designer
    Tel. 0039 339 2275756 - Email: matteosoltanto@yahoo.it - Skype: matteosoltanto
 
.