Mario Pao is a multidisciplinary artist, designer, and maker whose practice bridges architecture, traditional craft, and material innovation. Trained as both an architect and a woodworker, Mario leads Workbench Studio—an interdisciplinary design studio that produces conceptually rich, technically precise, and boldly original work.
From large-scale installations to finely detailed furniture and objects in wood, metal, and ceramics, Mario’s work reflects an intuitive understanding of materiality and form. His pieces are grounded in rigour and craft yet always reach beyond function—inviting deeper dialogue about space, identity, and the handmade. Beyond the materials and the creation of the physical objects themselves, he shows a deft hand at bringing people into his studio that can contribute their own knowledge and artistry to elevating the body of work beyond the output of a single person.
Mario’s art has a growing influence across BC’s creative landscape, exemplifying ambition, ingenuity, and cultural contribution.
