"Art is a gift, not a business. Artists should not have to pay to make their creativity known. Just as musicians don't pay to be heard, painters and visual artists deserve to be seen without facing additional costs. Their art is a treasure for everyone, and the world should be able to appreciate it without economic barriers. The visibility of artists should be natural, just like their talent."
CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS
" Queen Elizabeth II Against Racism "

"Queen Elizabeth II Against Racism" is an extraordinary work created by Master Raffaele Ciotola, who captures with sensitivity and depth a significant aspect of Queen Elizabeth II's character. The painting, executed in oil on canvas, depicts Her Majesty in an innovative way: half of her face is painted as white, as she was in reality, and the other half is painted black, symbolizing her firm stance against racism and her solidarity with all peoples.
The Queen, draped in a flag of England that tightly wraps around her torso, appears as a symbol of unity and universal love. The contrast of colors, combined with the delicacy of her expression, highlights a deeply sensitive and caring individual, one who embraced everyone, regardless of race or origin.
This painting is not only a tribute to her historical figure, but also a powerful and universal message of hope and tolerance, created with the utmost respect and love for the subject. The artist Raffaele Ciotola, through his work, seeks to emphasize that Queen Elizabeth II was a beacon of justice and equality, a lighthouse of peace in a world that still has much to learn.

Pioneer of Contemporary and Social Art
Raffaele Ciotola is a brilliant Neapolitan artist, renowned for his innovative and revolutionary approach to contemporary art. Born on October 17, 1964, Ciotola has skillfully combined creativity, social commitment, and artistic sensitivity, redefining the boundaries of visual expression through unique and avant-garde movements.
Ciotola is not a self-taught artist, but a Maestro d'Arte who received a solid academic education. After graduating from the Artistic High School, he distinguished himself through his passion for music, deepening his studies in opera singing (lower degree - tenor) at the Conservatorio San Pietro a Majella in Naples. This musical training further enriched his artistic vision and expressive ability.
His formal education and academic experiences, combined with his natural sensitivity, have allowed him to explore and manipulate various artistic languages, blending tradition and innovation in a truly unique way. His artistic influences range from classical Neapolitan art to international avant-garde movements, creating a continuous dialogue between the past and the present. This approach enables him to engage with contemporary social and political challenges, using art as a powerful communication tool to raise awareness and promote change.
In 2003, Ciotola founded "Stop Homoph Art" a powerful artistic movement dedicated to the fight against homophobia. This movement merges art and activism, aiming to promote respect, inclusion, and social justice through visual language and artistic expression. It has become a platform for raising awareness and challenging discrimination, using creativity to advocate for human rights and equality.
In 2018, he introduced "Rock Art Ciotola" an artistic concept that reinvents the images of famous icons and public figures with a rock aesthetic, using stylized tattoos and a disruptive visual language, elevating pop art to new heights and broadening its expressive potential.
His latest project, "Finger Art Ciotola" further demonstrates his ability to reinvent artistic mediums. In this series, Ciotola creates works using only his fingertips, breaking away from traditional techniques and exploring new dimensions of expression through an intimate and personal approach.
Raffaele Ciotola is not just an artist, but also an innovator who transforms every creation into a manifesto of freedom, personal expression, and the fight for civil rights. His works, rich in chromatic intensity and chiaroscuro effects, challenge both social conventions and artistic norms, inviting viewers to reflect on current issues through an artistic lens.
Ciotola’s work has garnered widespread recognition both nationally and internationally, attracting the attention of critics and prominent figures in the art world. Thanks to his creative genius and his ability to communicate profound messages, Raffaele Ciotola remains a beacon of innovation in the contemporary art scene.