In the Studio: Mattia Riami on Venice - The Floating City

Venice is a city unlike any other — a labyrinth of canals and bridges where history floats between water and sky. Here, light dances on centuries-old facades, and every reflection tells a story. It’s a place of contrast and emotion, timeless yet ever-changing — just like the feeling of crossing the finish line at the Venice Marathon.

We sat down with Mattia Riami, the artist behind this year's Finisher Artwork — created in collaboration with Memorace — to explore how he captured the spirit of this extraordinary city. From the rhythm of the canals to the quiet resilience of its runners, from tradition to transformation, this is how Venice — and its marathon — became art.

Q: As a Venetian artist, how did it feel to be asked to create the official artwork for your
home city’s marathon?

Mattia: I was very happy about it, Venice is my birthplace, my roots. I’ve created several
projects for the city, but most of my work is for international clients or major cities like Milan. So whenever I have the chance to create something for my hometown, it fills me with joy. I remember watching the Venice Marathon many times; some of my friends have even taken part in it. Now, it’s truly an honor for me to be part of it through my art.

Q: What was the first image or emotion you wanted to convey when you began
sketching the Venice Marathon artwork?

Mattia: I wanted to capture the colors and textures that are so characteristic of Venice,
elements that have always influenced me and are a constant presence in my work. I also
wanted to convey the city’s mysterious atmosphere through reflections and this beautiful
woman hidden behind a Venetian carnival mask. Who knows where she’s going, perhaps to a party, or maybe to a romantic rendezvous? I also included a small character, a symbol of the marathon, running across the rooftops like a modern-day Giacomo Casanova.

Q: Venice is a city with endless visual inspiration — what parts or details of it spoke to you most for this piece?

Mattia: I chose some of the city’s most iconic elements and landmarks such as the bell tower of St. Mark’s, the statue of St. George and the dragon, and the Rialto Bridge. I played with the subtle atmosphere of the Carnival but avoided the noise of the crowds. Instead, I wanted to capture the quiet, almost dreamlike silence that often envelops the city.

Q: The artwork has subtle nods to Venice Carnival. How did you balance that festive
spirit with the timeless beauty of the city?

Mattia: Exactly, I didn’t want to convey the chaotic side of the Carnival, but rather to depict a moment just before the celebration begins, as this masked girl makes her way through the city. Before the noise erupts and the streets are filled with a thousand colorful masks like a giant Harlequin, I wanted to capture the city’s still, timeless beauty.

Q: Your illustration style blends modern techniques with a classic Italian sensibility.
How do you approach that mix?

Mattia: I love combining traditional hand-drawn techniques with digital methods. I create
many parts of the illustration by hand using fairly dark pencils, at least 3B, which gives the work a traditional feel. I also produce various textures and marks this way. Then I scan everything and move on to digital coloring, where I complete the piece. This approach allows me to recolor it freely and give it a more modern touch.

Q: Movement is central to both running and art — how do you capture that sense of
motion in a static image?

Mattia: What a wonderful question. While creating this illustration, I was in China for a major artistic and cultural exchange project. One of my activities here was teaching at CAA, the Chinese Art Academy in Hangzhou, and I actually discussed this very topic with the students. In this case, movement is conveyed through the distortion of perspectives. The gondola in the foreground becomes enormous, bent and projected forward, and even its reflection is warped to give a sense of motion. The diagonal lines and the small character running in the background further enhance the feeling of movement throughout the piece.

Q: When people look at this artwork, what do you hope they’ll feel or remember about Venice?

Mattia: Its warm light, the textures and the water, the city’s undisputed protagonist, which reflects everything and creates an upside-down alternate world.

Q: How do you think the spirit of the Venice Marathon — a mix of endurance and
beauty — reflects the city itself?

Mattia: Yes, the city has to endure, to withstand many difficulties. The water, beautiful as it is, constantly erodes the walls and rises year after year. The ever-growing number of tourists risks turning Venice into an open-air museum and pushing local residents like me further away, making it increasingly difficult to find homes and spaces for everyday life and artistic practice. So yes, it fully reflects both beauty and resilience.

Q: If you could describe Venice in just three words, what would they be?

Mattia: Texture, delicacy, water

Q: Final Question: Are you a 42K, 21K or 10K person? 🙂

Mattia: Haha, if you mean on social media, then 10K, but when it comes to work, definitely 42K ;)