Onofrio Pepe was born in Nocera Inferiore (Salerno, Italy) in 1945, between the ancient Roman cities of Paestum and Pompeii: from his homeland he brings to sculpture, an art in which is a protagonist on the Italian scene, the suggestions of Myth. His artistic upbringing is that of someone who embraces the art of carving by means of a personal, self-taught, course. He devotes himself to art in Florence, where at present he lives and works in one of the last studios left in the city centre: his is in the quarter of San Frediano.
 
He has improved himself in formal expression by means of a research on ancient sculpture which frees him from the attitude imposed by the Baroque representation of legend and by introducing myth, the topics and subjects which, with great consistency he has been carrying on for a couple of decades.
 
He pays tribute to the symbolic world, each time in an increasingly finer way, as though before a sacred event. At the same time for many years he has been working as a social worker with the disabled.
 
Here is a list of the most important events in which he has taken part: In 1983, at the French Institute of Florence, he displayed some of his works on the theme "L'après-midi d'un faune", introduced by the art historian Daniel Arasse.
 
In 1990 an exhibition was held by the City Council of Florence in Ghirlandaio's Cenacle.
 
In 1991 "Eros in Myth", sponsored by Florence's City Council and by the Embassy of Greece in Italy.
 
In 1993 an exhibition was presented by Cultural Commission of the Province of Florence and by the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence.
 
In 1996 the City Council of Nocera Inferiore (his birthplace) presented him with the "La Noce d'Oro" award for artistic merits.
 
In 1998 the Tuscan Regional Council commissions to him the execution of the "Pegaso d'Oro" prize to be assigned to Jerzy Grotowski.
 
In 1999 the City Council of Piombino organizes an exhibition in Archaeological Park of Populonia In 2000 the Directorate of Culture of the City of Florence organizes the exhibition "Icarus' flight" in Palazzo Vivarelli-Colonna.
 
In 2001 the Tuscan Regional Council organizes the exhibition "A journey through Myth" in Palazzo Panciatichi, house to the Regional Parliament of Tuscany. In 2002 the European University Institute organizes the exhibition "The Myth of Europe", inaugurated by the President of the Italian Republic. The exhibition was visited by the President of the Republic of Portugal and by H.R.H. Prince Charles. In the same year (2002) he was made an Honorary Fellow of Florence's "Design Academy".
 
In 2003 the European University Institute buys the original of the monumental door "La Porta del Mito". The inauguration of the event takes place before the Italian Minister of Culture Giuliano Urbani and the European Ministers of Culture. The door should be displayed in the Piazzale degli Uffizi in Florence in 2004. The "Porta del Mito" is in bronze and has two shutters, it's more than 3 metres tall and is enriched by 42 panels on the "recto" (front) and by a strip made of 6 panels on the "verso" (back), where a "Dionysian Dance" is portrayed, meaning that only a Dionysian inebriation makes the revelation of myths possible. The door will be permanently placed in a square of Florence.
 
All his works in bronze are cast by the Ferdinando Marinelli Artistic Foundry of Florence and permanently displayed at the "Pietro Bazzanti & F." Art Gallery in the same city.