On September 13, 2025, invited friends and guests of Castello di Ama, Art for Human Rights and Amnesty Italy will gather at the magnificent Castello di Ama in Tuscany for a special event to benefit Amnesty International Italy. As part of the event, Art for Human Rights presents 17 works of art by leading contemporary artists for purchase, as well as Matteo Pericoli’s “Windows on Elsewhere: 60 Refugees, 60 Views” box sets, available in both English and Italian editions.
Amnesty International began as the ‘Appeal for Amnesty’ in 1961 and became Amnesty International in 1962, to work for the release of ‘prisoners of conscience’ – those imprisoned for the nonviolent expression of their opinions or beliefs. Amnesty International Italy was founded in 1975.
Amnesty International has enjoyed active support from artists of all disciplines around the world, including in the past visual artists including Henry Moore, Francis Bacon, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miro, Marlene Dumas, Gerhard Richter, Alexander Calder, Rosemarie Trockel, David Hockney, Kiki Smith, Fernando Botero, and Yoko Ono.
Continuing this proud tradition of artistic patronage, Art for Human Rights (formerly Art for Amnesty) will include 17 artworks in this sale to benefit Amnesty Italy on its 50th Anniversary. Chiara Bettazzi, Giorgio Andreotta Calò, Antonio Cacciatore, Marta Cervelló Casanova, Eva Eisler, Maria Gvardeisteva, Kendell Geers, Eithne Jordan, Kubra Khademi, Brian Maguire, Matteo Pericoli, Obra Roberto Rébora, Vivienne Roche, Peter Sis and Rodolfo Villaplana have each contributed an artwork for the sale, offering the chance to acquire a world-class artwork, in aid of a world-class cause.
Ileana Bello, Director General of Amnesty Italy
As we stand on the eve of this important art sale, I want to take a moment to reflect on something that lies at the heart of Amnesty International’s journey: the powerful and enduring relationship between art and human rights. For many years, artists have been among our most vital allies — using their creativity to speak truth, challenge injustice, and give voice to those who are silenced. Art has the unique power to open hearts, shift perspectives, and remind us of our shared humanity.
This is why Amnesty International Italy is deeply proud to collaborate with Art for Human Rights and Castello di Ama — a place where contemporary art and social consciousness meet. Together, we are building a space where art doesn’t just hang on walls but moves people to act.
We are grateful to the artists for their generosity and unwavering commitment to human rights. Their support ensures that the sale of these extraordinary works is more than a fundraising activity. It is a call to come together — artists, collectors, activists, citizens — in support of human rights for all. Every contribution helps us continue our essential work: protecting freedom of expression, standing with the persecuted, refugees and migrants, and defending dignity worldwide.
Let us remember — art can be a light in dark times. And with your support, we can keep that light shining. Because, as Amnesty has always believed: it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.
Ileana Bello
Director General
Amnesty International Italy
September 2025
Bill Shipsey, Founder and Executive Director of Art for Human Rights
Art, Amnesty, Castello di Ama and human rights
From its inception in the early 1960s, Amnesty International and its promotion of the rights and values enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has always been supported by artists of all disciplines from around the world.
Visual artists and musicians however have predominated. They especially have understood the important role that Amnesty has played and continues to play in the protection of the rights and freedoms of expression and opinion that is the lifeblood of what they as artists do. It has been a two-way mutually beneficial relationship – artists have supported Amnesty and Amnesty has supported artists. When countries become autocratic or totalitarian it is often the artists who are the first to be repressed. They are all too often the ‘canary in the coalmine’ – the early warning of danger that rights are being threatened. This is just as true today as it was over six decades ago when Amnesty began.
The artists who are supporting Amnesty Italy in this latest venture on its 50th Anniversary and bringing their art actually, or in the case of the very large pieces virtually, to the artistic temple that is Castello di Ama are continuing in the long and distinguished line of Amnesty International supporting artists.
Art for Human Rights which began life 23 years ago as ‘Art for Amnesty’ is grateful and proud to showcase their work. 50% of the proceeds of sale of the work will go to the artists. We hope that you will support their generosity towards Amnesty and that all the works will sell.
We are immensely grateful to Lorenza Sebasti and all her team at Castello di Ama for this opportunity and for allowing us to showcase the artworks in the rooms of its magnificently restored Villa Pianigiani. We can’t wait to greet the artists in person at Castello di Ama on September 13th.
Bill Shipsey
Founder and Executive Director
Art for Human Rights
September 2025
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Windows on Elsewhere: 60 Refugees, 60 Views is a book with a collection of 60 window-view drawings by internationally acclaimed artist, architect, and author Matteo Pericoli, depicting the present window views of sixty persons who were forced to flee their countries. The drawings are accompanied by short texts written by the refugees, describing their journey from “elsewhere” and taking inspiration from their drawn window view.
On the surface, the drawings simply reveal the view of each refugee framed by their window. But as we read their accompanying words, our attention turns inward and we get a glimpse of their past, their experiences, their emotions, and of the people, places, and stories left behind — inevitably blended with a seemingly everlasting, fleeting present.
The refugee participants in the book, who come from over thirty countries, describe what it feels like to be forced to abandon one’s home, one’s country, and, in many cases, one’s loved ones. Their stories are deeply personal and emotional, and draw out the complexity, intensity, and pain that are ingrained in a refugee’s journey.
English and Italian editions of the box sets are available to purchase for €1,000.
