Ilaria Merola (b. 1983) is an Italian artist and creative director specialising in generative AI and digital aesthetics. Based in Rome, her work intertwines technology, nature, and the female figure to explore themes of transformation and empowerment. With over 15 years of experience in digital design and more than two years in artificial intelligence, Ilaria has collaborated with multinational companies, creative agencies, and design studios.

Her project Neural Metamorphosis merges AI-generated imagery with pop culture, fashion photography, and futurism, positioning the female form as a symbol of strength and transformation. These influences are central to her visual language, reflecting a contemporary fusion of aesthetics and technology.

Manifesto of the Chrysalis Balaclava Collection

We are urban chrysalises, hidden yet powerful, ready to emerge in our metamorphosis.

For Cluster Contemporary Jewellery 2024, Ilaria presents Chrysalis Balaclava, a collection crafted exclusively for this event. These wearable sculptures serve as both urban armour and silent protest—a fusion of wool, fabrics, pearls, and chains that embodies resilience and transformation. Each balaclava echoes the voices of those advocating for peace and female freedom. Chrysalis Balaclava is not merely an accessory; it is a powerful statement of defiance and rebirth, paying tribute to the enduring strength found in metamorphosis.

Through woven fibres and metallic chains, each piece in Chrysalis speaks to the fusion of delicacy and resilience, the duality of beauty and power. It is a call to those who embrace their identity as a journey of constant evolution, reclaiming their space and their voice in the world.

"Metamorphosis is our shield. We are the change, we are the fight, we are freedom worn."

Ilaria is the co-founder of Futura AI Academy, where she teaches and promotes the ethical use of AI in the creative arts. Her work has been exhibited in galleries in both Rome and Milan, and she has been featured in Italian and international publications specialising in generative AI and creative technology.

Inspired by the natural world, my creative process is spontaneous, allowing ideas to emerge organically. AI serves as a tool to expand the boundaries of creativity, forging new visual languages and artistic possibilities. My aim is to highlight how technology can amplify human expression, particularly in portraying the power of femininity in modern art.

I am a visual artist working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, nature, and contemporary aesthetics. My practice delves into themes of transformation, female empowerment, and the evolving relationship between technology and humanity. Using generative AI, I create vibrant visual narratives that merge pop culture, fashion, and futurism, positioning the female figure as a symbol of strength and change.

My project Neural Metamorphosis exemplifies this approach, blending AI-generated forms with bold, colourful compositions that challenge conventional notions of beauty and innovation. The female form is central to my work, representing both empowerment and a personal reflection on the interplay between art and technology.