Mario Duarte
Rockford, IL
For Mario Duarte, his passion for art stemmed from his day job as a welder. He took his skills from his job and fused them with his passion and love for art. The rest is history. Mario’s pieces are incredible and get better every year.
Mario was part of the first DEVIATE event, and we can’t wait to welcome him back and have him show off his latest works. You do not want to miss Mario at this year’s DEVIATE.
Tell us about you. I have a full-time welding job, and you could say I really stumbled upon being creative by fate. I’ve always had curiosity to create unique pieces of metal artwork using the skills I’ve learned over the years in my trade.
What inspires your art? It all depends on how I’m feeling in that moment in time when I’m starting a new idea. It can be something fun and playful or something emotionally or spiritually inspired.
Knowing DEVIATE is an experiential, interactive art event, how do you envision participating and building your booth? I’ve participated in the last 2 events back-to-back and I try my best to just step it up a level to bring something the audience will leave being truly touched or connected with something I have on exhibit.
What’s your background? How did you get into art? Give us a little history! My background is welder and fabricator, so it was sort of inevitable with a creative curiosity and using the skills I’ve acquired in my trade that I stumbled into the art scene.
Why should people come out to DEVIATE? People should come out simply for the experience.
How would you describe DEVIATE to someone who’s never been? I’d describe Deviate as something of a music art fashion festival all in one.