Sicily is undoubtedly a beautiful island, rich in culture, art, and history. Not only is it a splendid place for its aesthetic and historical architecture, but also this land produces many talented Sicilians who often peak excellence. One of those talents is Stefano Lo Voi, an eclectic artist from Palermo who transforms his love for drawing and painting into works that vibrate with authenticity and passion daily. With a keen eye for tradition and an open heart for innovation, Stefano guides us on a visual journey through the wonders of Sicily and the depths of the human soul.
A young artist from Palermo
Stefano Lo Voi is a painter and drawer from Palermo who found his path in the visual arts. Studied at the Academy of Fine Arts of Palermo, he took specialization in painting, but his true love has always been for drawing. For him, a painting is like a proud wife accompanying him without being servile. After the Academy, Stefano continued his studies and took his Master of History of Art in the Faculty of Litterature and Philosophy, also in Palermo.
He continues to do his personal research because, as he loves to say, stopping would mean dying, and he certainly has no intention of dying before his time.
The mind of the young illustrator
He lives for illustration, literally! Stefano dedicates all of his time to do research and to work hard, because like he often said… only by working hard do ideas come to life. Drawing every day is essential for him, even when the boredom weighs heavily on him. He is proud to be an illustrator and gives life to his creations every day. Stefano strongly believes that perseverance is the key to developing original and innovative ideas.
His drawing technique
The nature and the long walk in a quiet and peaceful ambiance are the way Stefano connects with his ‘artistic instinct‘. During these walks, his mind and eyes began to converse, suggesting artistic ideas to be poured on paper or iPad. He works on paper with watercolor, ink, and digital media. He is striving to emulate traditional techniques. He firmly believes that understanding tradition is crucial before venturing into digital art. This philosophy is reflected in his works, where every detail is the result of careful study and a deep passion for past artistic techniques. His ability to blend tradition and innovation makes his style unique and recognizable.
Living and growing up in Sicily as an artist
For Stefano, Sicily is an unending source of inspiration thanks to its rich cultural history. It is like a great library of the world, where one can read the art history of the Mediterranean and beyond. The Sicilian cultural environment, with its mix of influences and traditions, is a fertile ground for Stefano’s creativity, which allows him to explore different themes and experiment with new styles and techniques.
However, there are only a few opportunities for illustrators to showcase their work. Fortunately, technology makes it possible to overcome these geographical limitations, offering commissions from all over the world. His work is displayed in several stores in Palermo, where he features original illustrations and reproductions, always striving to maintain an authentic, non-commercial product.
His artistic journey
Stefano has embraced painting and illustration because they were the first art forms he knew. As a child, he did not play with toys, but instead with pen and paper, creating notebooks full of fantastic environments and riddles to solve. These early interplay with drawing were his greatest companions and marked his artistic path. His childhood, spent among sheets of paper and pencils, laid the foundation for his future career, fueling a passion that continues to grow and evolve as the years go by. Each drawing and sketch is a journey back in time, a reminder of his childhood and the early emotions that drove him toward art.
His visual language
Defining his art is complicated; Stefano sees it as a drunk chameleon, often changing style and technique. He gets bored easily and, during work, another idea may require a different approach. This allows him to create various visual languages, making it difficult to recognize one of his works at first glance. He likes this approach because it is authentic, and it is something he values highly, especially in people. His art reflects his dynamic and curious personality. He is always looking for new challenges and ways to express his worldview. Each work is a piece of the puzzle that makes up his artistic identity as a fragment of his personal and professional journey.
Satisfaction and evolution: the young artist’s pursuit
According to Stefano, the term “satisfaction” implies settling down on one’s beliefs. Illustration fulfills his purpose, but he never wants to be completely satisfied. He experimented with photography, sculpture, and video editing not to become multifaceted, but to understand and respect the work of other artists. This perpetual dissatisfaction is the very motor that drives him to continually improve himself, explore new horizons, and never be satisfied with his achievements. His thirst for knowledge and personal growth makes him a constantly evolving artist. He is always ready to challenge himself and seek new ways to express his creativity.
The art and Palermo
Palermo and Sicily always have something to explore in Stefano’s perspective; for some time now depicting places on paper or digital media, he has created a series of illustrations on the domes of Palermo, representing them as the link between the land and the spirit.
He has also made faces where domes become hair and busts which are decorated with architectural elements of churches. This work expresses the Sicilian artistic and folk tradition. His ability to capture the essence of Palermo and its culture through his works is a tribute to his homeland and an attempt to preserve and enhance Sicily’s artistic and cultural heritage. Each illustration is a tribute to the beauty and history of Palermo, a celebration of his roots and identity.
The artistic project for Pride 2024
He not only uses his Sicilian identity as the source to inspire and express his art but also social engagement in communicating himself to the public. As June is celebrated as Pride month, this year Stefano organized an exhibition with six dedicated illustrations. He also chose and wanted to use them as a message of protest against the policies of some extreme right-wingers in Europe. His drawings depict various categories of gender and sexual orientation through Sicilian playing cards, combining the playfulness and at the same time the seriousness of Pride.
The exhibition is titled “BE PROUD – THE HONOR OF BEING OURSELVES” because Pride is about being proud to be ourselves, even when we are called “weird.” Being “weird” is now its source of pride. This project is an act of resistance and celebration and a call for everyone to be proud of their identity and to fight for their rights. His works combined with irony and depth, aim to raise awareness of important and current issues, promoting a message of inclusion and respect for all diversity.
The Festival of Santa Rosalia
Another project that keeps him busy at the moment is the one studied by the young artist for the 400th celebration of Santa Rosalia that will be this July; Stefano has created two versions of the Saint: one in Art Nouveau style and another more idealized, with her face covered with roses and a view of Monte Pellegrino, the mountain that overlooks Palermo.
He is not yet completely satisfied and is still working on a new version that points to his optimum state. His reinterpretation of Santa Rosalia, Palermo’s patron saint, is a tribute to the city’s religious and cultural tradition, but also an attempt to modernize and update the figure of the saint. His art is making him closer and more relevant to contemporary audiences. His work on Santa Rosalia is an example of his ability to combine past and present, reinterpret tradition in a modern context, and create works that speak to both the mind and the heart.
Thank you Stefano for taking this journey with us, we wish you the best of luck! And dear readers, we hope you have enjoyed this journey in its exploration, creation, and search for authenticity in each work. We are waiting for you in Palermo to share the beauty of this land, his art, and his illustrations.
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