Born in Naples, Italy, his family moved to Paterson, New Jersey in 1968. In 1982 Federico was awarded a full scholarship to the School of Visual Arts in New York City, where he earned a BFA in painting and media arts. Just prior to winning the scholarship, Federico received an opportunity to do a painting for veteran actor George Burns.

His fine art paintings are praised for their high-level of technical ability finding influence in the Renaissance and 17th century Italian and Dutch Baroque masters. Over the years, he has exhibited his paintings in galleries in NYC, Washington DC, and Sante Fe, NM. His works are held in the collection of the Yale Fine Art Museum and Kresge Art Museum as well as private collections throughout the United States, South America and Europe. In 2006, Federico Castelluccio and actor Paul Sorvino were privately commissioned for artwork to be donated as a permanent installation to the Boca Raton Community Hospital in Florida.