Danilo Zocatelli Cesco

lives and works in New Forest (UK)

About Danilo Zocatelli

Danilo Zocatelli (BR, 1989) is a Brazilian photographer and visual artist based in London.
Originally trained as a cook in Brazil, he moved to the UK in 2012 and shifted his focus to photography. He studied at the University of East London, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in 2023, followed by a Master’s degree in Photography at the Royal College of Art, completed in 2024.

Zocatelli’s artistic practice is rooted in a strong interest in personal and collective narratives. His queer identity, and the experiences that shape it, form an essential part of his work, contributing to an intimate, emotionally charged visual language.

Danilo Zocatelli’s Photographic Approach

Danilo Zocatelli’s photographic approach is driven by a deep artistic curiosity, cultivated since his arrival in the UK. His influences are diverse and include:

  • personal stories and testimonies,

  • everyday objects,

  • ecology,

  • performance,

  • memory and identity.

His practice results in powerful narrative projects, exploring subjects such as illness, resilience, and the daily life of a women’s prison.
He also investigates his own personal history, notably the complex relationship with his father, shaped by his queer identity. LGBTQIA+ communities and cultures are recurring themes in his work, often explored through drag performance and queer aesthetics.

Zocatelli works across a wide range of mediums, including:

  • video,

  • sound art,

  • sculpture,

  • experimental or cameraless photography.

Exhibitions and Artistic Residencies

Danilo Zocatelli’s work has been exhibited since 2021 in numerous venues across the UK and internationally, including France and the United States.
Since 2024, he has received several recognitions. In 2025, he won the Dior Photography and Visual Arts Award for Young Talents at Les Rencontres d’Arles.

That same year, he completed an artistic residency at the Inspection Pit Foundation (UK), further developing his narrative and experimental research.

His work was part of Family Stories at Hangar in 2026.

Art Book Publications by Danilo Zocatelli

Danilo Zocatelli’s photographs appear in several collective publications. His project Dear Father will be individually published for the 2025 edition of Offprint London, organised by Tate Modern.

available work