Raffaele Ciotola

RAFFAELE CIOTOLA | ARTIST AND ACTIVIST

''The Voice, the Silence, and the New Melody of Art''

The image portraying Raffaele Ciotola with his eyes closed and mouth sealed with rainbow-flag bandages is a powerful symbol of “enough!” a protest against the humiliation and indifference he has endured throughout his personal and artistic journey. It stands as a visual statement of a moment in which the artist has chosen to let his art speak for him with a voice that resounds clearly, even in silence.
For Ciotola, art is not just an aesthetic expression, but a cry of life, an act of resistance, and a bridge to those who feel invisible. Through his works rooted in his personal experience as a gay man he tells stories of identity, struggle, and hope in a world still often closed and judgmental. He believes in the revolutionary power of art as a tool for social change: his colors and symbols aim to shake, provoke, and spark sincere dialogue on issues like racism, homophobia, and inequality.
Born in Naples on October 17, 1964, Ciotola is a Master of Art with a solid academic background. His multidisciplinary training has enriched his expressive abilities, blending tradition and innovation.
In 2003, he founded the movement “Stop Homoph Art,” ...