About the Book
What began as chance encounters grew into trust, conversation, and ultimately transformation: Mario is no longer homeless and remains one of Rampolla’s close friends. Through candid portraits and layered street scenes, the project reveals not only Mario’s journey but also the shared humanity that transcends circumstance.
With 84 pages of photographs and reflections, Mario is a one-of-a-kind publication—part documentary, part personal narrative—that challenges perceptions and affirms connection.
Features & Details
- Primary Category: Social Science
- Additional Categories Street Photography, Arts & Photography Books
-
Project Option: US Letter, 8.5×11 in, 22×28 cm
# of Pages: 84 - Publish Date: Apr 05, 2025
- Language English
- Keywords fine art, homeless, portraits
About the Creator
Renato Rampolla is an American lens-based artist whose work explores humanity through themes of loss, connection, and presence. His photography reflects the ties between individuals, society, and the natural world, inviting viewers to reflect on seeing and being seen. He earned a B.A. in Social and Behavioral Sciences from the University of South Florida (1983), studying with sculptor Jerry Meatyard, brother of photographer Ralph Eugene Meatyard. His book Dignity No Matter What: The Light Within, featuring portraits of unhoused individuals, was juried into the 12th Annual Photobook Show at Davis Orton Gallery (2021) and exhibited at the Griffin Museum of Photography. Rampolla’s work has been shown at Soho Photo Gallery (2022, 2023), PhotoSpiva at the George A. Spiva Center for the Arts, the SE Center for Photography, and Praxis Photo Arts Center. Recent solo exhibitions include The Museum of Art in DeLand, FL, The Mount Dora Center for the Arts, and the Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art.