Mario Blanco was born in Mexico City in 1964 into a family of talented and accomplished musicians. His brother studied at the National Conservatory of Music, his mother is a classical pianist, and his grandfather was a trumpet player, a pianist, an orchestra director, and a radio show host.

As a child, Mario felt compelled to fit into the world of music, but he always felt like an outsider. During school hours he often found himself scribbling and sketching. These notebook doodles were the first expression of his artistic ability. He began to skip school so he could visit museums and galleries, getting close to the Art form that truly touched him. Leaving his formal schooling behind, Mario dabbled in theater and dance for many years before he returned to his first love of painting.

While color and texture predominate in many of Mario’s compositions, there also is a musical rhythm to his figurative works. Mario’s work is in private and corporate collections in California, Mexico, and Spain. He lives in San Diego where he encourages the talent of his son, Brandon.

“For me, painting is like play intensified. It is a place where I can simultaneously loose and find myself. My paintings are personal until they are complete; then they serve as a vehicle for imaginative interpretation and discussion.”