Maurizio Capannesi (artistically known as MaoSagao) is an Italian artist and designer based in Barcelona. After completing a Master’s degree in Statistics and working as an epidemiologist for the Dutch government in the Netherlands, he decided to dedicate himself fully to visual arts and design. He began his training as a designer as a self-taught artist before completing a postgraduate degree in Furniture Design at ELISAVA.
His painting practice explores the construction of visual languages inspired by the underlying structures of architecture, cities, and the everyday environment. Drawing on formal systems based on repetition, variation, and modularity, his work investigates the relationship between order and complexity, exploring the combinatorial possibilities of each visual language.
Awards
– NY20+ International Artist Residency, Chengdu (China), Winner, 21st Edition
– Concurso de Pintura Sanvisens – Selected Artist (2026)
– Concurso de Pintura Antonio Fernández – Selected Artist (2026)
– Premios Delta ADI-FAD – Finalist (2018)
– Premios ArtFad – Finalist (2014)
– Medallas ADI-FAD – Finalist (2013)
– IF Design Talents – Finalist (2013)
– A’ Design Award Gold – Winner (2013)
– A’ Design AwardSilver – Winner (2013)
– Red Dot Design Award – Winner (2012)
Exhibitions
– Concurso de Pintura Sanvisens 2026 (Group Exhibition)
Sitges, 14 November 2026 – 17 January 2027
– Artiade (Group Exhibition)
Valencia, November 2026
– Tardor d’Art 2026 (Art Fair)
Formentera, October 5 – 17, 2026
– Contemporary Art in the City – Arte Laguna Prize (Group Exhibition)
Shanghai, November 1 – December 15, 2025
– Facades – Order in Chaos (Solo Exhibition)
FLA FlavioLucchiniArt Museum – Superstudio, Superdesign Show / Milan Design Week
Milan, April – June 2025
– Paisajes Urbanos (Solo Exhibition)
FLIB – Italian Literature Festival of Barcelona, Barcelona, October 2024