Mario Pasquale Comensoli was born on 15 April 1922 in Lugano. Despite his lack of formal education, he received a scholarship in 1943 from the Fondazione Toricelli that made it possible for him to attend courses at the Kunstgewerbeschule Zürich and lectures at the ETH Zürich.

His first painting, Piccolo Paesaggio from 1944, was purchased by the Museo Covico in Lugano. That same year, Comensoli relocated permanently to Zurich.

1946: First journey to Paris, 1962 to Rome.

1953: First major exhibit, at the Helmhaus in Zurich.

1958: Studio moved to Rousseaustrasse in Zurich.

His most important series of paintings: Velofahrer, Lavatori in blù, Tell, Cinema, Discovirus, and Bewegte Jugend. Numerous commissions for murals and frescoes.

1974: The first retrospective of his work in Lugano, the second in Aarau in 1985, the third in Zurich in 1989, and the fourth, once again in Zurich, in 1998. Additional important solo exhibitions: the Helmhaus in Zurich, Kunstmuseum Chur, Kunsthaus Glarus, Kunstverein St. Gallen, Castello Visconteo Locarno, Galleria d’Arte, Centro Design Lugano, Galleria S. Lucia Rom, Die Brücke Düsseldorf.

Public commissions: Catholic church in Meilen, Schwendi chapel, schoolhouses in Hedingen, Lugano, Zürich-Hardau, and Sta. Maria, Kursaal Heiden, electric companies in Castasegna and Löbbia, senior residence in Weiningen, Restaurant Pestalozza in Chur, Zunft zur Letzi in Zurich.