Mario Schifano: The Pioneer of Roman Pop Art Mario Schifano (1934–1998) was an Italian painter and collagist who emerged as a pivotal figure in the burgeoning Roman postmodern art scene of the 1960s. Born in Khoms, Libya—then under Italian colonial rule—Schifano’s early life instilled in him a rebellious spirit that would permeate his artistic practice and propel him to international acclaim. Moving with his family to Rome shortly after WWII, he pursued autodidactic learning, initially honing his skills as a ceramics restorer before dedicating himself wholeheartedly to painting. His formativ…