After studying in England, Managua, Nicaragua, native Mario Villa Mario came to New Orleans to finish his education and build his career as an artist. He earned a degree in anthropology at the University of New Orleans and a degree in architecture at Tulane University. Villa was a multi-talented artist who created distinctive furniture, paintings, sculpture and jewelry.
Villa’s work was featured in publications such as Architectural Digest and Elle Décor, attracting widespread attention from people who wanted to buy his jewelry and sculpture and furnish their homes. In a 2007 interview, Villa described his style as “classical, with an M.V. twist.” Villa ran his namesake Magazine Street gallery, one of the first in New Orleans dedicated to displaying contemporary art, for decades. The gallery closed in 2004.