meet the artist: Ernesto Romano

Ernesto Romano: Turning X-Rays into Art for #ROEKO2026

An Italian artist in London turns medical imaging into a powerful artistic language: Ernesto Romano uses his own X-rays to explore identity, equality, and what lies beneath the surface. For #ROEKO2026, he brings radiology and art together in a striking way. 

Your art is the face of this years German Radiology Congress #ROEKO2026. How did the cooperation start?

I was approached by Saif Afat, whom I have known for several years. We’ve always shared a mutual appreciation for art and creative exchange. He told me about the vision behind the German Radiology Congress and invited me to contribute to the artistic design of the posters.
What immediately resonated with me was the idea of creating artworks that go beyond their functional purpose. These posters are not just communication tools for a congress, they are meant to live on as independent pieces of art. I found this concept both beautiful and sustainable.
The congress motto is "Radiology Beyond Borders".

How "beyond borders" is your art?

My art aligns very naturally with the idea of “beyond borders.” X-ray imagery is, by its very nature, a universal language. It removes visible distinctions, gender, hierarchy, age, profession, what remains is the essence beneath the surface. In that sense, it is one of the purest forms of equality and transparency.

How do you create your x-ray art and how did you come up with this creation idea?

The creative process behind my X-ray art involves working with radiographic imagery (mainly X-Rays of my self) and transforming it into layered visual compositions. I reinterpret anatomical structures as artistic elements, giving them new meaning beyond their medical context. For this specific project, we were inspired by one of Saif’s favorite works of mine, The Royal Book. We wanted to evolve this concept further and reinterpret it within the context of radiology. In a subtle and symbolic way, we even integrated anatomical elements from two of the congress presidents into the artwork, creating a very personal and unique connection between art and the people behind the congress.