Toti Scialoja was born in Rome, Italy in 1914. Initially attending school to become a lawyer, Scialoja abandoned his studies to take up painting and drawing. In addition to painting, he also worked as both a designer and poet.

The influence of European expressionism is evident in Scialoja’s abstracted works which often incorporate impulsive and gestural brushwork and patterning. Throughout his career he experimented with various techniques including dripping paint, soaking rags in pigment, and incorporating text into his works. His art can be analyzed in comparison to his poetry, both of which are rhythmic and evocative.  

His works are included in museum collections such as the National Gallery of Modern Art in Rome, Italy; Museum Novecento in Florence, Italy; Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, Italy; and Galleria Civica d’Arte Moderna e Contemporanea in Torino, Italy.