Michael Wally Olivarri is a New York City–based artist, illustrator, and painter. Of Aztec/Mexican and Italian/Basque descent, his colorful heritage is apparent in his striking, evocative creations. The youngest of five children, he was born in 1968 in San Antonio to Eduardo Olivarri Jr., who was stationed at Ft. Sam Houston, and his wife Elvira, whose music and ceramic creations surrounded and inspired the young Michael. He began drawing at an early age, inspired by comic books, science-fiction, and fantasy, and was a quick study—winning every Elementary School art award there was. In Junior High he began selling his work, which reflected the ever-expanding world of a young adult. Michael moved to New York in 1997, where he worked in finance, high-end modeling, cosmetics, and marketing before deciding to pursue his art full-time. Today his art is not only representative of his heritage and the worlds of sci-fi and fantasy (which he still loves), it is also inspired by his interest in an array of musical genres, his Catholic upbringing (especially the saints), film, animals, Egyptian and African art, nature, and the beauty that is in everything: “I see life as a canvas,” he says. Michael works in a variety of mediums, including paper, fabric, wood, and skin (using henna), and is represented by Bell Solloa in San Antonio, TX
