Claudio Setti is a realist figurative sculptor currently working in Canada. During his formative years, attending  L'istituto D'arte Venturi in Modena, Italy, he discovered his passion for sculpting the figure in clay. The artist later moved to Canada to pursue a career in film special FX to work on notable television series like "Witchblade" and "Monk" and on feature films such as "Don't say a word", "Resident Evil" and "Ginger Snaps". Having spent almost a decade in the industry, feeling a desire to pursue other art forms, he co-founded a sculpture company, "Martian Factory",  that creates high-end collectibles of pop culture icons from video games and comic books. The company also has a new developing fine arts division that focuses on bronze and cast stone art works. 

The company's first commercial figure was video game vixen of the year "BloodRayne" (2004): the strong, sexy, vampire heroin from the video game of the same name. The figure was hand crafted in the company's studio in a very limited edition of 200 pieces selling out within two weeks of its official launch. Currently the company is working with Jim Balent, creator of the curvaceous comic book character "Tarot: Witch of the Black Rose", and with Christopher Shy of Studio Ronin with his character "IAN" from the "Silent Leaves" Trilogy of graphic novels.  

Claudio's approach to sculpture is that of a traditionalist with meticulous attention to from and anatomy while making figures that are captured "moments in time" providing hints of back story, personality and life experience of the subject represented. The artist's favorite subject matter is the portrait and female nude. He chooses a classical posing style while attempting to capture models that are not typical by displaying alternative physical traits; strong features, tattoos, piercings or other elements, that help to define his view of modern female beauty. The artist favors themes such as mythology, strength, humanism, courage and physical beauty as a source of inspiration for his sculptures. He is currently working on his new body of work depicting modern female beauty in a classical style while choosing models that represent a current modern female form.  

Involvement with veteran charitable organizations is very important to Claudio, being actively involved with Wounded Warriors of Canada, a foundation dedicated to supporting war veterans wounded in combat to re-establish their lives and get back on their feet. The artist has also founded the "Portraits of Valour" (www.portraitsofvalour.ca) sculpture project dedicated to memorializing Canadian military history through monuments and memorials and by donating a portrait bust to families who lost a loved one in combat.

http://www.martianfactory.com
 http://www.claudiosetti.com