Mario Miguel Casado was born in Camagüey, Cuba in 1999. He immigrated to the United States in 2006 when the Diversity Visa lottery allowed his family to relocate. They have all resided in Virginia since then, and have been running K’Bolá Cuban Restaurant & Bar. In 2023, Mario received a BFA in Graphic Design from Virginia Commonwealth University, School of the Arts. Throughout his years at university, Mario defined his practice and utilized his design knowledge  as   a   foundation   for   his  body of work. This included an unconventional approach, seeking to repurpose and redefine the use of discarded and mundane materials. In 2022, Mario had the chance to study design in Florence, Italy at Santa Reparata International School of Art. During his time there, he connected his use of physical ephemera with a daily practice of writing. This experience brought about his first published work, Dimora Lontana – A Bilingual Anthology.

     Mario is an avid reader and collector of books on philosophy, science fiction, classic literature, poetry, and art. He is currently working on a sci-fi graphic novel to be released in Spring of 2025, and aspires to someday work in the book publishing industry.