It is dedicated to the victims of Nazism and to the entire LGBTQ+ community
MINISTRY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Agraria Palace in Vasanello – Viterbo – Italy, welcomes
"This work was born with a clear and precise intention, linked to the memory of the homosexual victims of Nazism and the LGBTQ+ community. This historical root bestows upon 'The Madonna of the Homosexuals' a unique value and specificity, as the exclusive heritage of the UNISCO Association - Vasanello (VT), which guarantees its integrity against any other representation or confusion."
A new heritage for Vasanello.
THE MANIFESTO OF THE MADONNA OF THE HOMOSEXUALS
"Stop Homoph Art" Social Mission – Patented Work
- The Universal Figure: The central figure of this work is Mary, portrayed in her dual religious and historical dimension as a universal mother. She serves as a timeless symbol of unconditional love—a love that accepts, protects, and embraces every human being without prejudice or distinction.
- An Embrace for Humanity: In this iconography, the Madonna does not cradle only the Child Jesus; in her gesture, she envelops all of humanity, symbolized by the Earth she gently holds in her hand. Her tender gaze extends to all sons and daughters, especially those who are homosexual, represented by the male and female symbols held by the Christ Child.
- Symbols of Pride and Remembrance: To express a deep bond, heraldic symbols are placed above Mary’s head in the vibrant colors of the Pride flag, flanked by two meaningful bouquets [cite: 2026-02-05]. One bouquet celebrates the joy of same-sex unions, while the other commemorates those whose lives were unjustly taken due to their identity.
- Awakening Conscience: This work is a tribute to all victims of homophobic violence, particularly those persecuted under the Nazi regime and marked by the pink triangle. The aim is to awaken memory and conscience against historical oblivion.
- A Spiritual Bridge: Only Mary can embody the sorrow of countless families who lost their children simply because they were perceived as "different''. Her universal love serves as a spiritual bridge between the suffering of the past and the hope of the present.
- Dignity and Grace: As society evolves, this symbolic portrayal affirms Mary as the Mother of all humanity: blind to difference, generous with her grace, and boundless in her love.
The Man and the Vision Born in Miano (Naples) in 1964, Maestro Raffaele Ciotola stands as one of the most multifaceted and revolutionary figures in the contemporary art scene. An ideal heir to giants such as Keith Haring and Basquiat, Ciotola has transformed the complexity of existence into a bridge toward the universal, giving a voice to those who feel invisible through a visual language that masterfully blends beauty and social justice.
Education and Multidisciplinary Genius The artistic solidity of the Maestro is rooted in an excellent academic background: he earned a Diploma in Art and a Diploma in Artistic Maturity from the Filippo Palizzi State Art Institute in Naples. This is complemented by deep musical training, having studied Bel Canto at the prestigious San Pietro a Majella Conservatory. This dual expertise allows the artist to orchestrate artistic languages with the precision of a composer, uniting the noble Neapolitan figurative tradition with the most daring international pop avant-gardes.
The Three Revolutions: Artistic Movements The Maestro is the founder of three movements that have marked this innovative path:
- Stop Homoph Art (2003): A pioneer of social art, with this movement Ciotola unites activism and painting, promoting a culture of respect and equality against all forms of discrimination.
- Rock Art Ciotola (2018): A disruptive movement that reinterprets sacred and profane icons with unprecedented chromatic energy and aesthetic force.
- Finger Art Ciotola (2017): The pinnacle of this research path. Through this exclusive and patented technique, the Maestro eliminates the face to make room for the imprint: the finger becomes the work itself, an identity seal that transforms the portrait into a totem of the soul.
Institutional Recognition and Collections The artistic stature of Raffaele Ciotola is confirmed by milestones of global significance:
- The Quirinale: The work dedicated to the commitment against racism received the appreciation of the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, consecrating the artist as an interpreter of national civil values.
- Fatima Museum (Portugal): The celebrated Madonna of Fatima has become part of the museum’s private collection, an international recognition of the ability to engage with the sacred.
- Permanent Placements: The canvas San Bonaventura is permanently exhibited in the Church of San Francesco in Bagnoregio (Viterbo), becoming part of a historical-artistic context of immense value.
A Legacy for the Future Today, Raffaele Ciotola is a beacon of innovation. The works, present in prestigious private collections and places of worship, demonstrate that art is the supreme instrument to rewrite the canons of reality. The artist remains the guardian of an eternal message: life is art, and art is the only instrument capable of generating truth and memory.