Born in Siena in 1944, Madiai moved at a young age to the coastal city of Livorno.
Although known as a Livorno painter, Mario was for many years resident in Barga with a studio in Piazza Angelio. Rooms in the Hotel Ciocco located in the hills above Barga have been named ‘Sala Madiai'
Mario now lives on a fattoria between Pisa and Livorno where he tends his other great passion - the vines.
Since the early 1970's, Madiai has enjoyed wide success, and his works have been shown in galleries throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States. More recently, paintings of Madiai have been entered in the permanent collection at the "Museum of Modern Art Mario Grimoldi" and museum "Museo d'Arte dello Splendore".
Madiai is among the most recognized and critically acclaimed names of contemporary Italian art, and is considered the last legitimate heir of the elegant and semiabstract art trend "Macchiaioli" indigenous to the city of Livorno.