Matéo Mornar (born 20 December 1946) is a French sculptor of contemporary art. He lives and works in the Principality of Monaco.
Biography
Born in Croatia in 1946, Matéo Mornar emigrated to France with his family at the age of ten. They settled in Paris. The young boy liked to spend time in the Louvre, especially in the sections dedicated to sculpture. At 18 he entered the École supérieure des arts modernes (ESAM Paris) school of modern art, where he studied design, graphic design, interior decoration and sculpture techniques. He graduated amongst the top of his class and joined a branch of the Publicis group. He worked for 3 years dedicated to developing scale model which are displayed at trade fair and the moved on to work as a freelancer. For many years, he worked in the area of publishing, graphic creation and interior decoration. An assignment took him to the French Riviera in 1977 where he decided to settle.
At the end of the eighties, he envisioned and conceptualized his first sculptures after a meeting with the artist Antoniucci Volti at Villefranche-sur-Mer.
In 1995, Mornar decided to devote himself entirely to sculpture and began to exhibit in the French Riviera (Cannes, Nice, Monaco...) his early works of bronze women.
In 1997, he opened a school of sculpture in Nice wishing to introduce to people the difficult art of sculpture and to inspire them.
Association
Mornar met the Grimaldi at the end of the 1980s in Monaco. Prince Rainier III much appreciate the artist and regularly visited his exhibitions. He affectionately called him "mon petit Croate !". The Prince Rainier lll; art lover and discerning collector purchased several of his works for his private collection.
In 2005, his son Prince Albert II succeeded him as the head of the Principality of Monaco. He created in 2006 the Foundation Prince Albert ll of Monaco dedicated to environmental protection and sustainable development.
Since 2009, Mornar has collaborated with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation to whom he donates a part of the benefices of his sales. The two men maintain a close relationship driven by a common aim to preserve the environment and particularly the endangered species.
Many sculptures of the artist ornate the gardens of the Principality. On a more personal basis, Matéo Mornar for the occasion of the princely wedding in 2011, created a silver sculpture representing the Prince Albert II and Charlene of Monaco, as well as bronze replicas to decorate the wedding's cakes.
Exhibitions
2014
Out of Time - Host Art Residence, Bruges – from 24 January till 16 April 2014.
2013
Sculpture; Life; Passion, 5th Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art, Zurab Tsereteli Gallery, Moscow - October 2013.
2012
Journée de l'Art-bre unveiling and exhibition of the Bear - Parc des Oliviers, Roquebrune-Cap-Martin - from 8th till 30 September 2012.
2011
L'espace Expositions - Gallerie du service Culturel - Beausoleil - Season 2011/2012. Exhibition Matéo Mornar - Hotel Splendide Royal Lugano, Switzerland - March 2011.
2010
Monegasque Exhibition Hall - World Expo 2010, Shanghai - from 1 May till 31 October 2010.
2007
Exhibition Matéo Mornar - Fairmont Monte-Carlo and Café de Paris Monte-Carlo, Monaco.
2005
International Contemporary Art Fair - Europ'Art (renamed Art Genève) - Palexpo, Geneva.
2004
International Contemporary Art Fair - Europ'Art (renamed Art Genève) - Palexpo, Geneva. International Artexpo - New York City
Events and associate artworks
2015
A tribute to the Catholic baptism of Prince Albert II of Monaco and Princess Charlene's twins; Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella of Monaco, Mornar created a bronze sculpture representing the letters "J" and "G" and a dove carrying an olive branch, symbol of peace. The sculpture was presented on the steps of the Saint Nicholas Cathedral of Monaco at the end of the religious ceremony.
Mornar created three large wall sculptures "the Poet, the Lyra and the Flute" in reference to poetry, singing and music of ancient Greece. They are on permanent display in the lobby of the Odeon Tower, double skyscraper located in Monaco.
2014
For the 66th edition of the Gala of the Monegasque Red Cross, Mornar created "Gaia", a painted wood and plastic sculpture. Gaia is the goddess of the hearth, nature and harvests in Greek mythology. Her open arms symbolize hospitality and generosity.