Pedro Bonatto

Pedro Bonatto is a fine art and advertising photographer. He draws inspiration from mythology, history, fashion, and world cultures to create cinematic and painterly environmental portraits that transport the viewer to reimagined worlds. Pedro is also a musician, videographer and podcaster, and the founder of The Blue Dot Ensemble, a world music and dance group that connects cultures from around the planet.

Pedro's creative approach to portraiture permeates both his personal and client work, which includes gallery exhibits, advertising campaigns, movie posters, book covers, and fashion editorials. He uses a combination of natural and studio light to create his style, believing that photographs should not only elicit emotion but also serve as objects to think with.

Pedro's exploration of human expression is influenced by his background as the son of a painter and a journalist, and his exposure to the visual traditions of photographic reportage and realistic oil paintings. He received a BA degree in Communications and Advertising in 1999 and a Master of Design degree from OCAD University in 2012, where he created his first fine art series, Portraits of Science, which reimagined obscure figures in the history of science inspired by mythology, science fiction, and fantasy.

In his series The Orientalist, Pedro travelled through six countries in three continents photographing musicians and dancers who are influenced by Middle Eastern culture in the West, inspired by the aesthetics of Orientalist painters from the 19th century.

Pedro is also the creator of the Wanderings Podcast, where he interviews artists, designers, scientists, filmmakers, authors, and entrepreneurs. In informal conversations, Pedro explores topics that inspire his personal photography work, including history, mythology, science, music, fashion, and world cultures.

Pedro is originally from Porto Alegre, Brazil, and is currently exploring Middle Eastern cultures in Egypt. Together with his wife, dancer Iana Komarnytska, Pedro travels the world creating music, dance, and photography projects that bring together a variety of world traditions, which are often reflected in his fine art and advertising work.