Giuseppe Veneziano

Giuseppe Veneziano (born February 22, 1971 in Mazzarino, Caltanissetta, Sicily) is an Italian painter and one of the leading figures of Italian art groups "New Pop" and "Italian Newborn".

Madonna dell'Elvis, a painting of the Sicilian artist.

He received a degree in architecture from the University of Palermo in 1996. After working as a cartoonist and illustrator for newspapers in Sicily, he moved first to Bologna (where he collaborated with the Glauco Gresleri Architectural Studio) and then permanently to Milan to paint where presently he lives and works.

In 2004 the work of Veneziano first came to public notice with a show at the Le Trottoir pub in Milan which featured controversial portraits of Osama Bin Laden and Maurizio Cattelan (the latter with a noose around his neck), both which were subsequently featured on the cover of Flash Art Magazine.

Veneziano's work was included in the Arsenale section of the 2013 55th edition of the Venice Biennale

The artist is represented by the Contini gallery in Venice and the Gestalt gallery in Milan.

Following the designers Dolce and Gabbana spotting a Veneziano painting of Christ on the cross wearing a pair of their brand name underwear briefs in the Venice Biennale they commissioned the artist to do a portrait of them with the Madonna portrayed as the likeness of the chanteuse and performer Madonna Ciccone and the courtiers as two putti at her feet.