The Italian version, Premio.Celeste, boasts over 13,000 members, nearly 9,000 of whom are artists.  However, do not think only of painting when using the word ‘artist’, for Premio.Celeste features a whole range of different art genres, such as photography and graphic design, sculptor and installations, video and animation, and, of course, pictures.  The diversity is huge, and there is much to see.

As the name implies, artists can win cash prizes for their work, and this must help up their profiles both within, and outside of Italy.  An excellent idea.

Free Membership

Premio.Celeste

Membership of Premio.Celeste is free, and is not limited to artists alone, there are journalists, which is what I’m calling myself, seeing as I am starting to do some freelance journalism work, and blogging is not too far from journalism, when all is said and done.  Since joining, I’ve acquired 12 14 22 30+ friends, which is wonderful.  As you might imagine, many of these friends are artists.

Another nice aspect of the site is that the artists can post details of events featuring their work, however, many of the Italian artists only post details in Italian, which is a shame, as those visiting Italy might like to see the work of their preferred artist in the flesh, so to speak.  This is something I’m looking into changing, as I think it might be interesting for event details to be in English too.  If I get anywhere in this little quest, I’ll report here.

Friends

My profile is here: Italyisin, and if you do happen to have a spare few minutes, I suggest viewing some of the very interesting work by my Premio.Celeste friends, many of who are Celeste Prize winners.  These friends are, so far:

1. Alberto Mileti
2. Giuseppe Galli
3. Mauro Lacqua
4. Isovni Contemporary Visions
5. Marco Bellomi – Winner Celeste Prize Italy ‘09. Category: Painting
6. Antonio De Luca – Winner Celeste Prize Italy ‘09. Category: Photo & Digital Graphics
7. Steven Smith – International Friend
8. Leonardo Lenzi – Winner Celeste Prize Italy ‘09. Category: Photo & Digital Graphics
9. Gaetano Fiore
10. Barbara Karwowska -  Winner Celeste Prize Italy ‘07. Category: Painting
11. Gabriela Bodin
12. Maria Chiffi
13. Luciano Civettini
14. Jordi Fornies – International Friend – Winner Celeste Prize ‘09. Category: Painting
15. Juanita Capogna – Winner Celeste Prize Italy ‘09. Category: Painting
16. Cinzia Tomassini
17. Exhibitionow – Winner Celeste Prize Italy ‘08. Category: Photo & Digital Graphics.  Winner Celeste Prize Italy ‘08. Category: Video, Installation & Sculpture
18. Rossano Liberatore – Winner Celeste Prize Italy ‘09. Category: Painting
19. Vincenzo Baldini
20. Claudia Ibanez
21. Gabriella Ferlito – Winner Celeste Prize Italy ‘09. Category: Painting
22. K-soul – Cosmic Garden Holokinetics Laboratory.  Winner Celeste Prize Italy ‘09. Category: Video, Installation & Sculpture. Winner:  Celeste Prize 2009. Category: Video & Animation
23. Ilaria Messaggio
24. La Tavolozza – Centre for Art and Culture
25. Michele Lombardo – Winner Celeste Prize Italy ‘09. Category: Photo & Digital Graphics. Winner Celeste Prize Italy ‘08. Category: Video, Installation & Sculpture.
26. Daniele Gori -  Winner Celeste Prize International ‘09. Category: Painting
27. Adria – Winner Celeste Prize International ‘09. Category: Painting
28. Rinaldo Cirillo – Winner Celeste Prize ‘09. Category: Painting
29. Carapostol -
30. Paolo Dogà – Art Critic and Curator
31. Carlotta Castelletti

I thoroughly recommend art lovers take a look at the site.  Remember my Celeste Prize profile, where you will find the people listed above is here: Italyisin, so please spend a few minutes looking at the work of the artists listed.  If you like what you see, spread the word about the artist, Celeste Prize site and Italyisin.

A nice touch is the RSS feed for each artists’ ‘Gallery’ – look for ‘Opere‘ in Italian or ‘Artworks‘ in English.  Just click on the RSS symbol over on the right, and you will be notified via your browser, feed reader, or whatever you use to follow feeds, as and when the artist or artists you are following add something new.  If you have no idea what an RSS feed is – look at this video here: Using RSS, a post over on my Blog from Italy site.  Note too that you can alos

If you do not find something that appeals, I will be extremely surprised!  Happy browsing!  Beware, though, this site will have you whiling away many hours.  You have been warned!

Dependtendency – Call for Venice 2009 from celeste.prize on Vimeo.

Italy has no shortage of photographers exploring this medium to create contemporary art. Indeed, there is an association dedicated to the promotion of the work of Italian photographers. This Milan based association, the simply named Fotografia Italiana – Italian Photography, was founded quite recently by art collector, Nicoletta Rusconi.

The aims of Fotografia Italiana are clear – its prime objective is to encourage Italian photographers to undertake artistic research.

For those interested in photography as a contemporary art medium, the Fotografia Italiana website is well worth visiting, and there is an extensive section in English.

Not to be missed is the ‘Artists’ section which contains a long list of photographic artists, some of whom, such as Alessandro Vicario , have their own websites where examples of their works may be explored.

In addition to profiling photographic artists , Fotografia Italiana also has a mine of information on current and forthcoming exhibitions.

You may start your voyage into the world of contemporary Italian photographic art here: Fotografia Italiana

This is good news for Italian sculptors who work in this sector. Indeed, one Italian sculptor, Maurizio Cattelan , is just behind the top three sculptors in terms of those artists whose works are most in demand on the worldwide art market.

For other Italian scultptors, such as Gianpietro Carlesso , Angelo Aligia , and Simone Racheli such news is encouraging. The work of these and many other Italian artists is crying out for more recognition.

Actually, the fact that the sculptors featured on this site have not yet attained the recognition they merit is very good news for collectors and speculators. It means that their works can be acquired for very reasonable prices, which will, potentially, increase vastly over time.

Having adopted the theme of ‘hyper-realism’, Racheli’s recent works feature ‘fleshless’ sculptures. His subjects, though, are not objects which normally have flesh. Indeed, he portrays a more mundane but quite diverse rage of objects, such as washbasins and motorbikes.

The fruits of his recent endeavours are eye catching, if somewhat disturbing, pieces.

Examples of this artist’s unique creations are on display at the Galleria Enrico Astuni in Pietrasanta.

Italy is in has not yet acquired permission to display Rachelli’s works, but examples can be seen here .

One of Racheli’s most startling pieces is what must be one of the most original interpretations of a motorbike ever seen. It is recommended that viewers use the ‘view image’ function, usually found by right clicking on a mouse, because the photo initially visible is somewhat distorted.

Actually, Italy is in’s Alex Roe, who was covering the MiArt 2008 Contemporary and Modern Art Exhibition in Milan for another on-line publication, first spotted Racheli’s work at this event. He found it enthralling.

The distinctive originality of this artist means that his work begs to be followed, and who knows in which direction his creativity will take him.

Racheli now lives and works in Parma, Italy.

However, many artists come up with work which could well be exploited by business, and, indeed, I spoke to an artist about this on Monday. What I suggested was that his work could be turned into another product by an enterprising company. Selling this product would then create an income for the business concerned, and generate royalty payments for the artist. Obviously those in business need to make profits to keep their companies going, and artists need to generate other income streams to help them raise funds to allow them to devote more time to their, for the want of a better word, art.

Artists come up with some excellent designs, which can be used in connection with a great variety of products. At a basic level from postcards to posters, but at a more innovative level, from curtains to car interiors. The possibilities are just about endless, and, potential, the resulting products would be original and eye catching.

Italy is in wants to encourage Italian contemporary artists to go down this path, even if, not all artists will appreciate seeing examples of their work incorporated into everything from mugs to mirrors. However, those who are open to the use of their work in connection with new product development, may possibly generate enough income to permit them to say goodbye to the day job, and be able to devote themselves to their creativity full time.

Of course, not every artist will find a business that is interested enough in their work to make a business propositions, but for those that do, life may well become a little easier.

If you happen to be a business owner who is looking for fresh new designs to use for some product line or other, and the work of one of the artists featured on Italy is in catches your eye, then please contact Italy is in , with details of how you would like to use the artist’s work, and Italy is in will then contact the artist concerned to see if he or she may be interested in taking the idea further.

In general, it would perhaps be fair to say that most artists would like their work to form part of limited edition products, however, those seeking wider exposure, may well be open to ideas resulting in the mass production of goods. They only way to discover what an artist may be interested in, is to establish contact.

Alex Roe of Italy is in speaks English and Italian, and can certainly make the approach necessary, as can Gaetano Salvo, who, while he does not speak English so well, would have no problem discussing business propositions with the artists concerned.

At the end of the day, business relationships of this type can be productive for artists and businesses, without forgetting, of course, the positive effect such partnerships can have on the ‘Made in Italy’ brand.

In the case that Italy is in is aware that an artist is open to business proposals, this will be mentioned in the artist’s profile.

An Example of the work of Gaetano Fiore

Gaetano Fiore’s distinctive minimalist style which involves combining abstract and natural forms facilitates the creation of images which are striking in both their simplicity and their employment of a mix of geometric and fluid shapes. His images are also characterised by the use of what at first glance appear to be striking combinations of dominant colours.

In actual fact, however, although the colours and shades of colour he uses are indeed bold, the combinations employed always manage to compliment each other, resulting in visually appetising imagery.

Fiore’s talents were first recognised in 1986 by the Neapolitan art critic Luigi Eboli.  Soon after Fiore held his first exhibition at the Galleria Salammbo in Paris.

Thanks in great part to the efforts and encouragement of his mother-in-law, U. Reiger, Fiore’s work has been widely exhibited in Germany.  As a result of these exhibitions, Fiore has been brought into contact with a number of well known German artists and galleries.

A visit paid by Fiore to Salvatore Emblema’s museum-atelier in 1997 was to have a radical and lasting impact on the creative direction taken by Fiore’s future work.

Interestingly enough, Fiore has also works as a scenographer for a number of theatres around Italy. Indeed, he has worked with the Globe in Rome, and the Nuovo Theatre in Salerno. Additionally, Fiore’s scenographic work also caught the eye of noted Italian actor, theatre director, writer and musician, Tato Russo – who is the artistic director of the Bellini Theatre in Naples.

Another curiosity is that Fiore is considered something of an expert on Afro-American music. Actually, one also wonders whether Fiore’s imagery has been influenced by traditional African art.

His interest in Afro-American music has brought him into contact with Carlos Ward and Bill Dixon , with whom he often shares and exchanges both musical and pictorial musings.

When not painting, Fiore can be found at the Zenale and Butinone Institute in Bergamo, Italy, where he works as teacher of graphic advertising design.

Gaetano Fiore was born in 1960 near Naples, in Italy, and studied at Naples’ Academy of Fine Arts.  You can find a little more information in English about Naple’s Academy of Fine Arts here: Around Naples Encyclopaedia

Fiore has two children, and lives in Bergamo.

Gaetano Fiore has a personal website, in Italian and German, where more of his work can be viewed:

Gaetano Fiore

Some more examples of Fiore’s work is visible below.

Just click on a picture to see a larger version.

[View with PicLens]

Indeed, artprice has two databases:

• a database of artists, and
• an auction catalogue database (290,000 catalogues), can be searched.

All that is needed to search the databases is the artist’s name and surname, which, of course you will be able to find on Italy is in .

Registration with artprice only becomes necessary if you find something you wish to look at in more detail. Registration is free, although those more seriously into collecting or investing in art, may wish to take out one of artprice’s subscription plans .

artprice is very useful for discovering how well established an artist is, in that the service can provide information about individuals, their work, and for how much examples of their work are selling.

Should an artist listed on Italy is in not be found lurking within artprice’s huge databases, then this is not necessarily a bad sign. Indeed, quite the opposite, in that Italy is in is living up to its raison d’etre, which is to help people discover artists and their work.

If you happen to be someone who has searched for an artist featured on Italy is in within artprice because the works of an artist on this site have piqued your curiosity, then congratulations! You too have come across an artist who is not yet well known at an international level, and the fact that you searched means that you considered that this artist could be within artprice’s databases, and if the artist is not, then your search indicates that most probably the artist concerned deserves to be.

Another advantage of not finding an artist within artprice is that his or her work may be purchased for commissioned for a more reasonable price.

However, should this site help artists find their way into artprice, then this will be good for the artist, who will be then be encouraged to produce more, and thus increase their contribution to the art world in general.

Popularity arising from this site may also help sway the opinions of art critics, both outside and within Italy. Again, this can be beneficial to the artist concerned.

If enough people like and acquire the works of a particular artist, then the standing of the artist will increase.

This is what Italy is in ’s aim is – to encourage people to discover artists, spread the word, and develop interest, and in doing so, encourage artistic endeavour.

If you help us to achieve this aim, then thank you!

Although primarily self-taught, he has attended courses at the Carrara Academy in Bergamo, and commenced his artistic work when only young under the guidence of under the guide of some masters.

Born in Florence on in 1952, Angelo Mazzoleni, who now lives and works in Bergamo, Italy, has been painting for more than 27 years.

More information about this artist can be found on and his work, which are available for purchase, can be viewed on his section of Artmajeur

Italy is in will be inviting Angelo Mazzoleni to display a selection of his work.

Dedication

This site was inspired by an Italian sculptor I know quite well – Gianpietro Carelesso. The purpose of Italy is in is, quite simply, to tell the world about Italian contemporary art and artists.

Contemporary Art

By contemporary art, we mean painting, sculpture, photography, and digital art, plus any other medium that can be considered to be art.

What is the Scope of Italy is in? Why?

Run by myself, Alex Roe, and my researcher, Gaetano Salvo, Italy is in aims to track down and publish information about as many artists and their work as we can find. Why? Simple! Because we want to help Italian artists publicise and sell their work. If as a result, we encourage others to embark on artistic endeavours, wonderful! The world will be a better place as a result.

We are not art critics!

We do not intend to criticize the work displayed on this site, because we both know that taste in art is highly personal. However, that said, we are not going to publish any old work unless we consider it has some artistic merit.

The Gallery

In order to give as much space as possible to the display of the work of artists featured on this site, Italy is in also has a Gallery area. The Gallery is divided into specific areas for each artist who chooses to display his or her work there.

The Gallery is a free resource, and we would like to keep it free for as long as we can. Some of the work displayed in the Galley is available for purchase. If you the work of a certain artist interests you, then please contact Alex Roe , and he will put you in touch with the artist concerned or his or agent.

Thanks for visiting and reading.

Our best regards,

Alex Roe and Gaetano Salvo

Marta Dell’Angelo won the first edition of Premio New York in 2002, an event which was sponsored by both the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and The Italian Academy at Columbia University.

Examples of her work have also been displayed in Paris and Milan.

Working in oils and pencil, her subjects are often women. She appears to have penchant for mixing subtle and bold colours to very good effect.

Some examples of her work can be seen here:

Qui Brescia

and here:

Chicken Gang

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