The concept of transformation is a central theme and process in Biagi’s work. His early pieces explored the transformative power of coating everyday objects with layers of black tar, embracing an art-punk aesthetic that recontextualizes familiar objects and subverts longstanding symbols of culture and domestic life.

In contrast to covering objects, his latest works embody a different kind of transformation—creating something from nothing. While hot tar resists direct touch, Biagi’s work in raw plaster allows him to shape form directly through sculpting. This shift highlights the process and promise of transformation through gesture and touch, symbolizing the formation of being from dust.

Mattia Biagi was born in northern Italy in 1974 and currently lives and works in Los Angeles, CA.