Tina Aimone

Appreciated by both the public and critics, Aimone’s imagery is widely regarded in Italy.

Aimone’s work is noted for its romantic intensity.  An intensity which has been achieved through the artist’s use of differing but complimentary combinations of soft colours.

Tina Aimone paints a range of subjects from landscapes to portraits, still life to religious iconography. Read more

Interesting Italian contemporary art photographer Carmelo Nicosia’s works are on show in Milan, Italy, at the moment.

Should you wish to have a taste of what you can expect to see, you should visit the Fotografia Italiana site here.

The dates, location, and times of the Carmelo Nicosia exhibition are below:

When the exhibition is on:

• Today until Saturday 19 July 2008.

Opening Hours:

• From Tuesday to Friday, 3 pm to 7 pm.

The Venue:

• Fotografia Italiana arte contemporanea, Corso Venezia, 22 - 20121 Milan, Italy - Telephone: +39 02 784100

Admission:

• Free.

"Painting with light" is a term which has been used to describe photography, and certainly, the work of some photographers is art. As with other mediums, photography requires observation and interpretation to achieve images which provoke thought and discussion. Such images can become possessions as prized as the work of noted painters or sculptors, just think of Ansel Adams .

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

Pistoia born Italian sculptor, to whom I spoke today, Luigi Galligani, produces art based on, in the words of the artist himself, ‘Mediterranean myths’. You may agree that his work could be said to be refreshingly original and modern interpretations of figures having their origins in Roman and Greek antiquity.

Working mainly in terracotta and bronze, Galligani’s work is both intriguing and thought provoking. Indeed, his mythically inspired themes have understandably attracted the attention of various galleries around the world.

Born in 1957, Galligani trained at the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence and Carrara. He currently works from his studio which is located in Castellina in Chianti, near Siena.

This artist’s work has also achieved critical acclaim, and he has been hailed as:

"…one of the latest generation of “masters” of Italian sculpture" - Francesco Gurrieri Art Diary Critic, 2003

Here is a selection of Galligani’s pieces:

[Show as slideshow]

Should you wish to see more examples of Galligani’s work, then they can be viewed in various locations both around Europe and in North America. The list below provides the locations and dates of exhibitions displaying this artist’s work:

• Rarity Gallery Mykonos Greece (April - October 2008)
• Interart Sculpture Garden Heeswijk - Dinther Holland (May - October 2008)
• Sculpture Exhibition Chateau Neercanne (Gallery bell’Arte ) Maastricht - Holland (May - September 2008)
• Personal Exhibition Gallery bell’arte Maastricht - Holland (November 2008)
• "The Odissey Within" Agora Gallery, New York (December 2008)

More details, and examples of Galligani’s work and information about the artist himself, including contact details, can be found on his personal website: Luigi Galligani

With thanks to Mr Galligani, firstly for having taken the time to speak to me, and for having very kindly given his permission, orally, for Italy is in to display some examples of his work.

‘Struggling artist’ is a phrase which will be well know to plenty of those attempting to peruse a career as an artist, and many still need to maintain day jobs to help deal with those mundane things such as paying off mortgages, bringing up children, and feeding themselves and their families.

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.

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 colour and shades of colour he uses are indeed bold, the colour combinations 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 to his wife, U. Rieger, Fiore’s work has been exhibited in Germany, where Fiore has also come into contact with various German artists and galleries.

Since 1997, Fiore has come under the tutorship of noted Italian contemporary artist Salvatore Emblema , whose work has had a great influence on Fiore’s style.

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, Italy, and still studies at Naples’ Fine Art Academy .

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.

[Show as slideshow]

For those who are not aware, artprice is one of the largest art databases on the Internet.

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!

Artist Angelo Mazzoleni is an interesting and original painter and his original and striking work has already a interest.

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.

Working mainly in watercolours, Ferrigno’s work attempts to capture the character and feel of Sicilian scenes. Much of his work features the buildings and thoroughfares of small Sicilian towns and villages. The imagery in Ferrigno’s works is likely to appeal to those of Sicilian origin, or possibly even those wishing to possess something which brings back happy memories of places visited during a vacation on this fascinating Mediterranean island. Read more