Born 1952, Marco Montanari was raised in Buffalo N.Y. His art education includes a minor in Fine Arts at Erie Community College and at the State University of N.Y., as well as ongoing art studies in sculpture, life drawing and painting throughout the years. In 1993, while living in Saratoga Springs N.Y., Marco developed a process of sculpting wax on a wood lathe and then painting the sculpted surfaces with pigmented paraffin wax. Sculptures were designed as luminaries with the painted surfaces glowing when lit. In 2000 Marco began traditional Encaustic painting with beeswax, but quickly moved back to his paraffin wax for his painting, developing a specialize wax formula that best translated his unique sculpting techniques into wax painting. In 2003 Marco and his wife, Kathy Zilbermann, relocated to Boulder Colorado where he is currently working exclusively in wax painting. In 2013, Marco began an ongoing collaboration with his Saratoga Springs friend and poet, Elaine Handley. That friendship and collaboration continues today, blending their two art forms which has been showcased in numerous exhibits. Over the last 18 years of wax painting, Marco has exhibited in numerous gallery, selected shows, as well as residencies and teaching workshops on his wax painting around the country (see Resume). Currently Marco has his studio in the artist spaces of Hoi Polloi Workshops in the North Boulder Arts District. Marco is also an active participant of Boulder’s growing “Emerald City Artist Collective” within the Arts District.