Matteo Pugliese was born in Milan in 1969. In 1978 his family moved to Sardinia and lived there for the next 12 years. During this time he developed a strong love for drawing and sculpture and practiced without formal education. After finishing his secondary school studies in classics in Cagliari, he returned to Milan to attend university. In 1995 he was awarded his degree in modern literature at the University of Milan with a graduation thesis on art criticism.

Kyle Walker of AC Milan sprays water from his mouth prior to the start of the second half of the Coppa Italia match at Giuseppe Meazza, Milan on February 5, 2025. (Photo by Jonathan Moscrop/Sportimage/Alamy Live News)

A protester sprays paint on the window of a bank during a rally against Expo 2015 in Milan, Italy, April 30, 2015. The Milan Expo will open in the city on May 1. Officials are counting on some 20 million visitors to the six month-long exhibition of products and technologies from around the world. (Photo by Stefano Rellandini/Reuters)

Gigi Hadid, American fashion designer Jeremy Scott and Bella Hadid pose backstage of the Moschino fashion show during the Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2022/2023 on February 24, 2022 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)

A model presents a creation by Versace from the Spring/Summer 2023 collection during the Milan Fashion Week, in Milan, Italy, 23 September 2022. The Milano Fashion Week Women's runs from 20 to 26 September. (Photo by Mourad Balti Touati/EPA/EFE)

Bella Hadid, Vittoria Ceretti and Gigi Hadid are seen backstage ahead of the Alberta Ferretti show during Milan Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2018 on September 20, 2017 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by WWD/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor arrives for the Giorgio Armani women's 2019 Spring-Summer collection during the Milan Fashion Week, in Milan, Italy, 23 September 2018. The Spring Summer 2019 Women's collections are presented at the Milano Moda Donna from 19 to 24 September. (Photo by Matteo Bazzi/EPA/EFE)

A Dandy Dinnmont Terrier is displayed at the World Dog Show in Rho, near Milan, Italy, Saturday, June 13, 2015. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)