2019 Artist Mauricio Benega

The Hawke’s Bay Wine Auction presents one major artwork by a feature artist each year.

Born in 1977 in Sao Paulo (Brazil), Mauricio Benega moved to New Zealand in 2004 and now lives and works as a full time artist in Hastings.

Mauricio graduated with a Bachelor Degree of Visual Arts & Computer Graphics in 2001 at University of Tuiuti Parana, Brazil. He also completed a Post-Graduation in School Administration & Visual Arts in 2004 at FAE Business School in Curitiba, Brazil and a Diploma of Visual effects & Motion Graphics in 2009 at Media Design School in Auckland, New Zealand.
Working from his studio based in Hastings, he opened a business named Studio Benega Ltd, a creative company dealing with creative art projects, such as; exhibitions, murals, workshops, illustrations, design, commissions and paintings.

He loves to Work on different projects, especially commissions (when the client gives the brief for a painting or a mural). He really enjoys the process of digesting all the information and creating a beautiful composition that tells this story through images, icons and layer upon layer of texture and colours.

As part of this process, he created the FAS System, which stands for Family – Art – Surf – These 3 elements are the completed cycle that defines him and keeps him inspired and motivated to produce every day, unless surf is up, then he’s out.

The Hawke’s Bay community is familiar with his work from such murals as Clive Pool, the Opera House 100 years celebration fence mural and The Hastings Menu, in the Alleyway of Market street, commissioned by the Hastings District Council.
Mauricio’s work can be found in collections in NZ, Brazil, Australia, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, Germany, USA, Indonesia and Singapore.

www.mauriciobenega.com