Painter, mosaic artist and sculptor who was born in Ravenna, Italy where he studied painting, sculpture ceramic and mosaic art at the Artistic Lyceum which enabled him do an adult entry to the Ravenna Academy of Fine Art from 1945-50. He spent the next year restoring the mosaics in the famous church of St Apollinaire Nuovo in Ravenna. Sensing that there was little for him there he became an assisted migrant in 1952 which saw him work as a fettler on the railways and then as a decorator in country areas.
From 1960-68 he worked as an illustrator for Creative Advertising Arts and then taught Adult Education classes for the University of Western Australia Extension Services until 1972. He also became art master and Italian teacher at Aquinas College, a position he held until 1991. He also taught at TAFE Forrestfield and undertook many commissions, particularly for the Roman Catholic Church. One notable commission was the 1968 mural for the Italian Club in Perth, another was the design of tapestries for the Sydney Hilton. He also entered competitions and won one of the Western Australian sections of the Perth Prize for Contemporary Art in 1959.
Mazotti’s first solo exhibition was held in the Commonwealth Bank in 1963. Others followed in Perth, Sydney and Ravenna. Of one of his Cremorne Gallery exhibitions in either 1969 or 1971 Murray Mason wrote: “An exhibition of paintings by Dan Mazzotti at the Cremorne Gallery offers studied refinement in method and message and is in consequence pleasing. There are many themes and a heavy reliance on Biblical sources but no suggestion of anything ponderous or patronizing in intent. There is however, a strong reliance on mood and mystery.” His 2004 solo at Stafford Studios was introduced as “Over the years he has developed a recognizable individualistic style noted for its outright visual pleasure, technical competence and integrity.”
- Writers:
- Dr Dorothy Erickson
- Date written:
- 2010
- Last updated:
- 2011
