Octavia Monaco began her artistic training in the field of goldsmithing—a discipline that instilled in her a knack for transforming materials and a keen eye for detail—though it was initially in the publishing world that her poetic universe found its first avenues of expression. She created illustrations for fairy tales, legends, and myths, as well as illustrated biographies of renowned painters from the past; these works were published internationally—extending well beyond Europe—and garnered numerous accolades, including the 2004 exhibition of the original artwork for *Vi presento Klimt* (Let Me Introduce You to Klimt) at the Louvre bookstore.

This twenty-year professional journey helped shape the distinctive stylistic signature that still characterizes her artistic creations today.

She taught the art of illustration at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bologna for fifteen years.

She exhibits her paintings on wood in numerous solo and group exhibitions.