Marcos Marín, born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on September 12, 1967, is the son of a film producer and an opera singer. At the age of five, Marcos began taking classical piano lessons at the Sao Paulo Conservatory of Music. At a very young age, he began a career as a virtuoso pianist and came to France to study music. At the same time, he developed a passion for painting.
1990, at the Cité des Arts in Paris, Marcos met Vasarely. Intrigued by Vasarely's work, Marcos Marin embarked on an adventure in optical art. He was successful, winning two awards for his work: the Fiat Prize for his work on Christopher Columbus celebrating the 500th anniversary of the discovery of America (Fiat Museum in Turin) and the Philips Collection Prize for his work (MASP Sao Paulo). During this decade, Marcos Marin played an important role in cultural development between Brazil and France for AIAP UNESCO.
2000, he moved to Miami Beach in the United States, where he set up his studio.
2003 was the year of his first monumental sculpture. It was exhibited at the Coconut Grove Convention Center during the inauguration of the major art fair Arteamericas. He won the “Best of Florida” competition.
2004, at Art Basel, Marcos Marin met Delphine Pastor, who, impressed by his talent, invited him to exhibit in Monaco.
2005, the opening of the exhibition—which included a magnificent portrait of Princess Grace, now in Monaco's National Parlement—took place a few days after the death of Prince Rainier. Prince Albert then asked Marcos Marin to design the official monument dedicated to his father. This monumental work was unveiled on January 18, 2006, at the entrance to the “Cirque de Fontvielle.”.
2006, Marcos Marin met fashion designer and patron Pierre Cardin, who offered him the opportunity to create large-scale works in the Lacoste studio and became his patron. Meanwhile, Marcos Marin worked in Portugal with Stanley Ho as part of the 50th anniversary of the Estoril Casino. The patron awarded the artist two medals of honor: one thanking the artist for the exhibition dedicated to the Casino gallery and the other for the portrait of Stanley Ho created in Macau.
In 2009, invited to Japan as part of the 100th anniversary of Brazil-Japan friendship,
the artist received recognition for his entire body of work.
2010, Marcos Marin was elected a member of the Academy of Fine Arts in Portugal in 2010.
In 2011, Marin painted a portrait of the President of Portugal, Mr. Cavaco Silva, for the centenary celebrations of the ISEG University in Lisbon. In Monaco, footballer Luis Figo was immortalized with his footprints in the Hall of Fame and also unveiled his portrait by Marcos Marin at the Golden Foot Awards Monaco. Villefranche-sur-Mer inaugurated the historic public monument dedicated to Jean Cocteau in the gardens of the citadel, Marcos Marin's first permanent work on French territory.
2012 was a year full of achievements, with Marin participating in Art Monaco with a new monumental sculpture of Princess Grace, a work that became part of the Prince's collection. The “Paraphrase” project is presented in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, in the olive tree gardens with the large sculpture “David.” The event also sees the inauguration of the permanent public monument “Coco Chanel” in the Cap Martin Hall of Fame. Invited by the Russian government as part of the Monegasque delegation, Marin participates in the “Images of Russia” project and wins first prize from the Russian Academy of Fine Arts, as well as unveiling the portrait of President Putin donated to him by the Academy. In Singapore, during the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Gala, a sculpture of Lee Kuen Yew, former president, was the object of desire at Christie's auction.
2013, the commission for a public monument to Coco Chanel for the town of Roquebrune Cap Martin was the highlight of the year for the artist.
2014 - A new monumental portrait of Princess Grace of Monaco was unveiled by HSH Prince Albert II on the occasion of L'art'Bre Public Garden in Cap Martin.
2016, The monumental portrait of composer “Rossini” was unveiled at the entrance to the San Carlo Opera Theater in Naples, Italy, on the occasion of the opening of the World Opera Season.
2017 The National Archaeological Museum of Naples, Italy, MAMN, presented Marcos Marin's monument to Gianni Versace during the exhibition “Magna Grecia” Inspiration for the Myth.
2018 The inauguration of the historic monument to Princess Grace of Monaco, a 4-meter bronze sculpture in Macau at the Galaxy Resort, and the sculpture paying tribute to Marise Condé, Nobel Prize winner in Paris and Guadeloupe, are the two monumental works in the spotlight this year. Invited by the Kraft Pavlova Foundation, the Russian Ministry of Culture, and the City of Moscow, Marin participates in the official exhibition of the World Cup at Zaryadye Park Moscow.
In 2019, Marin inaugurates the portrait of Algerian President Abdel Aziz Bouteflika in Algiers and unveils the portrait of King Mohammed VI of Morocco during the Andalusian music festivities in Tangier, Morocco. During the Monaco Television Festival, Marin presents the portrait of actor Michael Douglas, a sculpture co-signed by the actor and Marin in friendship and recognition of the 50-year career of this major film and television star.
2020 The portrait “Grace Forever,” a mural at the entrance to the Princess Grace Hospital Center in Monaco, is unveiled by Prince Albert II of Monaco. In Ventimiglia, the large permanent monument “David, paraphrase of Michelangelo,” a 4-meter sculpture in the public garden of the commune, is inaugurated.
In 2021, Marcos Marin creates the official portrait of Charles Aznavour, a commission from the city of Nice for a 4-meter sculpture. In the Jardin du Cap Martin, the monumental sculpture Grace is the park's new permanent monument, inaugurated by Prince Albert II of Monaco. In Saint Jean du Cap Ferrat, invited by the city, Marin holds his solo exhibition in the Namouna space and also creates a trail of monumental sculptures in the streets of Cap Ferrat. The artist made her first foray into the world of NFT Art with a collaboration with Forbes Monaco magazine.
In 2022, Marin was the guest of honor at the Château de Cremat in Nice, celebrating his 40-year career. The collaboration with Aston Martin produced a work on the DB11 Volante car. Marcos created the optical fashion collection for Monaco Fashion Week with Diana Mara. The official portrait of Josephine Baker is the artist's most important commission and will be the new permanent monument in Roquebrune Cap Martin. Marin exhibits his monument “Gianni Versace” at the Monet Garden in Bordighera, Italy.
2023 Exhibiting at the Agora public art project in Bordighera, Marin creates a monumental sculpture in honor of Maria Callas on the occasion of her centenary at the Opéra Garnier in Monte Carlo. He also inaugurates an important and historic sculptural monument for the concert hall of the Opera-Theatre of Thessaloniki, a work representing the friendship between Divina Callas and her friend Princess Grace of Monaco.
In 2024, under the high patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco, Marín held a major exhibition of monumental sculptures, “State of Grace,” in the Monte-Carlo Casino Gardens. He inaugurated the permanent public Monument to Charles Aznavour in Place de la Armenia in Nice, France.
In 2025, Marín held his major solo show with 60 works at the Opus Zaha Hadid space in Dubai.
The artist lives and works in Torri, a small historic village in Ventimiglia, Liguria, Italy, at his foundation.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
