"He is a Montreal-born artist who moved to New York City when he was 14 years old.

www.cosimocavallaro.com.

The whole cheese thing came to him while he was having dinner at a restaurant -- Amici Mei, at West Broadway and Houston -- and the owner told him that he could use some paintings of wine and cheese for his decor. Cavallaro offered to cover the inside of the place with cheese instead. The restauranteur declined.

But Cavallero went home and covered his chair with cheese. "The feeling was great," he said. But with one proviso. "Never get caught with the mess in your hands."