Raffaele Coletta
Raffaele Coletta is an Italian artist based in London (UK).
He has been fascinated by the art of drawing since his childhood. As teenager, while he was attending the Scientific High School, he started to study, as self taught, anatomy, perspective, the theory of shade and light and colour.
After gaining his Scientific Diploma, he decided to study Art in Italy.
Eventually, he moved to London (UK) where Raffaele obtained his BA (hons) Fine Art from London
South Bank University and an HND in Graphic Design at the City and Islington College, London.
Meanwhile he has created many paintings, experimenting with different techniques and ways and trying to see anatomy not only as the figure of the human body, but also as an expression of his emotions.
He loves to express himself through the fascinating media of oil paints, and the different possibilities that this medium offers. He uses brushes, palette knives, rags, fingers and more.
His interest in art revolves around how human bodies and minds work, and everything in between.
“My focus lies in a type of figurative art that draws inspiration from surrealism, aiming to seeks to express the duality of human nature and to capture the intricacies of the human mind and its various nuances, encompassing both the rational and the unconscious side.
I find the dynamic interaction between two aspects of our psyche to be a captivating source of inspiration. I aim to capture the perpetual conflict between these two sides, which often leaves individuals in a state of inner discord.
I like to mix elements of reality with dreamlike imagery, merging the logical side of our minds with the subconscious side.
In my portraits, emotions are depicted as pixels and explosions emerging from the faces, symbolizing the complex interplay between conscious and unconscious mind, drawing inspiration from archetypes deeply embedded in the human psyche.
I express my artistic style through a fusion that extends from figurative to abstract.
This intersection allows me to evoke contrasting feelings, inviting viewers to explore the multidimensional aspects of the human experience. It’s a deliberate choice to capture the complexity of emotions and the diverse ways in which they manifest in our lives.
My favourite medium is oil paints due to their unique ability to achieve effects that might be challenging with alternative mediums. as expanding the colour spectrum, softening shades, and accentuating three-dimensional modelling.
In addition to traditional brushes, I enjoy using various unconventional tools into my creative process such as palette knives, sponges, cloths, and many more in order to get the diverse textures and techniques that characterize my artistic work.”
- 13/04/2024
