Tecnica mista

2025

The plant-dinosaur I

Markers and pens on paper
36x24cm
2025

The eagle-plant Goddess

Watercolors and red bic pen on paper
36x24cm
2024

Artwork inspired by the books of the archaeologist Marja Gimbutas.
The illustration represents the Mother Goddess of the Neolithic period in the form of a fantastic animal, a union between a bird (in this case an eagle, an animal chosen by me) and an American agave/cactus. These are images that I associate with symbols respectively of royalty, strength, protection and the union of the human being with Nature.
The agave is instead a very widespread plant in my land, Sicily, with healing and ornamental properties.
The sun in the top right is inspired by the sculptures of the Sicilian artist Mariano Pietrini, founder of the Jalari Museum Park in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto (Messina).

The elephant angel

Watercolors, colored bic pens and markers on paper
50x35cm
2025

The work features an anthropomorphic elephant, elegantly transformed into an angelic figure. Large, feathered wings unfurl to the sides, while the subject delicately plays a stringed instrument held in human hands. The trunk curves gracefully, and the face is adorned with stylized markings. The composition is imbued with a vibrant fusion of warm tones, such as gold and orange, which blend harmoniously with shades of green and blue. The fluid brushstrokes create an ethereal atmosphere and a sense of dynamic movement.

2024

Self Portrait as Neolithic Goddess of Regeneration

Watercolors, markers,acrylics and bic pens on paper
35x50cm
2024

A stylized self-portrait, inspired by the Old European Neolithic Goddess of Regeneration and Life and Antonello da Messina's "Salvator Mundi."
Immersed in vibrant shades of green against a dark background, the figure is masterfully constructed with dense parallel lines that shape the face, hair, and clothing, lending a dynamic and organic texture. The eyes are precisely delineated, while the torso features geometric patterns such as spirals and triangles in light green. Abstract shapes float in the surrounding space, enriching the composition. The slender hands hold pointed elements, evoking a primordial connection.

The work is a tribute to life through Art, which has always supported me in the most difficult moments and, like a Mother Goddess, raised and fed me.

The work is signed by the artist and dated 2024.

Tribute to Cammarata and Pietrini II

Mixed media on paper
21x29,7cm
2024

The work depicts a majestic elephantine figure, whose sinuous, striated forms recall a succulent plant. Deep, dark greens predominate, enlivened by vibrant orange and yellow stripes that sculpt the volume and texture. The composition is centered, with the elephant standing majestically against a background that fades from pale green to warm orange. Stylized elements emanate from the main figure, including two enigmatic masks, one on a long stem and the other on a shorter stand, inspired by the artworks of Mariano Pietrini in the Jalari Museum Park.
The drawing, rich in linear details, gives the work a sculptural and organic presence.

PUBLICATIONS/ EXHIBITIONS

2024
Exhibited at the online collective art exhibition "Thorn Edge" curated by the Aedra Fine Arts Gallery: https://www.aedrafinearts.com/

Twin elephants

Mixed media on paper
29,7x21cm
2024

The artwork depicts two stylized elephants, united in a dynamic composition that dominates the canvas. The figures emerge through an intense palette of greens, from bright lime to deep dark green, with yellowish accents illuminating the background. The forms are delineated by an intricate interplay of parallel lines that create vibrant, almost striated textures, lending volume and movement. The faces, with stylized eyes and intertwined trunks, suggest an intimate bond between the creatures.

They are inspired by the works of Giovanni Cammarata and Mariano Pietrini, both "unconventional" artists of the Sicilian art scene. The painting reveals an expressive gesture, where every stroke contributes to defining the strength and elegance of the subject.

Tribute to Cammarata and Pietrini IV

Markers, watercolors and green pen on paper
21x29,7cm
2024

A work created by the fusion of the styles of outsider artist Giovanni Cammarata and Sicilian sculptor Mariano Pietrini.

The work represents an apotropaic mask inspired by Cammarata's fantastical elephants, combined with the stylized features of Pietrini's works, exhibited at the Jalari Museum Park in Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto, Messina.

Goddess Mother I

Watercolors and pens on paper
35x22,5cm
2024

"Mother Goddess I" features a stylized, voluminous figure with rounded, layered forms, evoking an ancient fertility deity. The palm-like head culminates in a trunk with a pared-down face. The drawing is immersed in a vibrant palette of oranges, reds, and yellows, with shading that lends depth and texture. Dark spirals dance in the background, adding dynamic movement to the work. The skillful use of color and linework creates a powerful and evocative image.

Elephant phone holder

Watercolors, green and blue pens and markers on paper
21x29,7cm
2024

Stylized elephant, created using mixed media on paper.
The figure, with its rounded and elongated forms, features a combination of warm colors such as orange and yellow, which blend with cool shades of blue and dark green, creating an effect of depth and volume. The sinuous trunk and front legs stand erect, suggesting the functionality of a cell phone holder.
The clean lines and delicate nuances give the work a dynamic and almost sculptural appearance, highlighting the artist's masterful use of materials.

Fantastic elephants I

Bic pen and white pencil on recycled paper
21x29,7cm
2024

The artwork depicts two anthropomorphic elephants, symbols of empathy, longevity, and memory, with human hands and feet instead of legs, underscoring their extreme sensitivity, both emotional and physical.
In place of tusks, they also feature pencils, and in place of tails, paintbrushes, as in my personal artistic poetics, they symbolize Art and Creativity, and therefore the joy and celebration of Life.

EXHIBITIONS

2024
The artwork has been exhibited to the first Art EXPO Biennal of Messina happened on from 5th to 13th October 2024 in the Collective held on Palazzo Zanca (Messina's town hall)

Fantastic elephant

Bic pen and white pencil on recycled paper
21x29,7cm
2024

This drawing depicts a fantastical elephant, a hybrid creature that blends organic and mechanical elements. The animal, with a curved trunk and a sharpened pencil on its forehead, features large, stylized ears and an armored body from which more sharpened pencils emerge. Seated on a circular base, the elephant holds its legs in its hands. The pen drawing technique creates a rich play of light and shadow through an intense pattern of crisscrossing lines, lending the work a sculptural depth and a metallic texture against a neutral background.

EXHIBITIONS

2024
The artwork has been exhibited to the first Art Biennal of Sondrio happened on from 4th to 13th October 2024

The Death and the child

Bic pen and white pencil on recycled paper
21x29,7cm
2024

The drawing depicts a skeletal doe, representing both Life and Death, with imposing butterfly wings with pronounced dark veins and white spots. Wrapped in a long cloak, the figure reveals an animal face and a luminous halo crowning its head. In its bony arms, it delicately holds a small infant figure, a premature baby girl struggling between life and death. The execution, characterized by precise lines and meticulous shading, enhances the contrast between the brown tones and the luminous white accents.

The Queen of the female power

Bic pen and white pencil on recycled paper
21x29,7cm
2024

Artwork inspired by the animals symbol of the Mother Goddess in Ancient Europe, such as the snake (a giant cobra) and an eagle, my personal symbol of the power of the Nature and the female in the Sky.
The anthropomorphic eagle with the features of Medusa is a symbol of the strength of the Feminine and she is dressed in the clothes of the Goddess of snakes found in Knossos, symbol of the Mother Goddess of the Minoan civilization.

The dinorooster

Watercolors, bic pens and markers on paper
25x35cm
2024

The artwork "The dino rooster" depicts a hybrid creature, a cross between a dinosaur and a rooster, that dominates the composition. The subject is depicted in profile, with a bright green body and details reminiscent of a Spinosaurus, such as the large dorsal sail, and distinctive features of a rooster, particularly the elaborate tail feathers.
The drawing is executed with dynamic, precise lines that define the muscles and textures, while the deep purple background, created with watercolor, creates a vibrant and evocative contrast.

The dinoplant under the stars

Watercolors, markers and bic pens on paper
21x29,7cm
2024

The artwork "The dinoplant under the stars" captures a hybrid creature, similar to dinosaurs, populating an ethereal space. The drawing is characterized by bold strokes that define complex, structured forms, with prominent dorsal fins and vivid red eyes. The color palette, dominated by deep blues and purples, is brightened by vibrant reds and pinks, creating a surreal and dynamic atmosphere.
The striated textures give volume to the subjects, who float among bubbles or stars, with the artist's signature clearly visible.

2022

Fighting elephants

Colored pencils and watercolors
36x24cm
2021

Arancino lion

Colored pencils and watercolors on paper
30x24cm
2021

The artwork "Arancino lion" captures a stylized and vibrant figure, dominated by intense shades of yellow and orange. Created using mixed media, the illustration features rounded and organic shapes that blend together, suggesting a fantastical lion or a mythological creature. Dynamic strokes and concentric circles create an energetic aura around the subject, while a horizontal base of blue and yellow stripes anchors the composition.
The artist creatively reinterprets the iconography of the lion from the bell tower of Messina Cathedral, infusing chromatic vitality and an engaging visual rhythm.

Bleeding colors

Soft pastels,colored pencils and watercolors
35x50cm
2022

This drawing features a detailed anatomical heart, rendered in earthy reds and browns that highlight its veins. From the right side of the heart, a vibrant cascade of rainbow colors flows fluidly, creating a dynamic dripping effect. The background fades from a pink halo to a deep black, accentuating the vibrancy of the pigments. The work captures a powerful image rich in visual contrast.

PUBLICATIONS/ EXHIBITIONS

2024
Exposed in the art virtual exhibition "Love" curated by the Barbagelata Contemporary Art Foundation held from July 26th to August 8th 2024
Link: https://www.barbagelata.org/loveexhibition

Vax and no vax

Mixed media (pastels,colored pencils and watercolors) on colored paper
35x50cm
2022

PUBLICATIONS / EXHIBITIONS

2022
Participation in the Collective art exhibition for the third event of the "Il Sommo nell'Arte"
(The Supreme in Art) held in Gerace (Reggio Calabria) from October 13th to November 6th 2022

Participation in the Collective exhibition for the art event Il Sommo nell'Arte- Dante ai tempi
del Covid (The Supreme in Art - Dante in Covid age) from August 11th to August 17th 2022 at the "Museum of the Royal Bourbon Ironworks" in Mongiana, Vibo Valentia, Calabria

Victim of Negativity III

Pastels and colored pencils on paper
25x35cm
2022

This work features an intense composition, where a large insect in dark and golden hues emerges with a bright yellow-green aura. Below it, the face of a female figure lies horizontally, characterized by a fixed expression and cracks that furrow her pale skin, like a fragmented doll. Dark hair frames the face, while the mixed media of pastels and colored pencils gives the drawing a vibrant texture and a dramatic contrast between light and shadow.

2021

Arancino lion Colored version

Bic pen and markers
21x15cm
2021

PUBLICATIONS / EXHIBITIONS

Publication of the artwork and interview appeared at "Al-Tiba9 Contemporary Art, Performance and Fashion Design Gallery"

Link: https://www.altiba9.com/platfrom-interviews-for-artists/mariaceleste-arena-drawing-digital-painting

2018/2016

We love you

Ink pens and markers on sketchbook
36x24cm
2016

The drawing depicts a stylized anatomical heart, centrally positioned and visibly torn, pierced by multiple daggers and sharp points. Against a vibrant red background, the heart is outlined in minute detail, highlighting surface cracks and red veins reminiscent of blood. The use of black and white defines its structure and weapons, while black splashes and drips spread across the canvas, lending the work an intense and raw drama. A powerful representation of vulnerability.

EXHIBITIONS

2024
Artwork exhibited in the virtual exhibition "Love" curated by the Barbagelata Contemporary Art Foundation held from July 26th to August 8th 2024