Corsican painter Mario Sepulcre is marking three decades of artistic creation with a comprehensive retrospective exhibition showcasing fifty of his works at his longtime studio in Villanova. The exhibition, running from August 8-10, will display pieces spanning from religious and symbolic art to still life paintings, representing the breadth of work he has produced in the village over the past thirty years.
The 68-year-old artist has carefully selected fifty pieces from his extensive portfolio for this special exhibition, which will take place in the building that houses the town hall where his studio is located. "This exhibition offers a sampling of my research and favorite themes, from sacred art to symbolism, including my lemon paintings," Sepulcre explained. "This exhibition is particularly meaningful because it represents my gratitude to the municipality of Villanova, which allowed me to occupy the studio located in the town hall building, on the floor above where these canvases will be presented to the public."
Sepulcre's connection to the region runs deep through his maternal roots in Loreto-di-Casinca, and he settled permanently in Villanova in 1994, never leaving since. That same year, the then-mayor Pierrot Carette granted him access to the municipal studio space, a decision that would prove transformative for his artistic career. "His successors, Dumé Bianchi and then Antoine Vincileoni, maintained this decision in turn, thus offering me ideal conditions for creating," the artist noted with appreciation.
The studio has been extraordinarily productive for Sepulcre's artistic output over the three decades. "Here, I have completed more than three hundred paintings, which I have to store elsewhere due to space constraints," he revealed. Without this dedicated workspace provided by the municipality, Sepulcre emphasized that he would not have been able to stabilize his work for the long term and maintain such consistent artistic production.
The upcoming retrospective will feature a diverse range of artistic styles and subjects, including still lifes, draped figures, religious subjects, mythological themes, and drawings. This variety demonstrates the artist's versatility and his exploration of different artistic traditions throughout his career. The exhibition represents not only a celebration of his artistic achievements but also a tribute to the community support that made his sustained creative work possible in Villanova.
