More stories

  • in

    JOTALO Unveils a Poetic Tribute to Growth and Fragility in Villa del Río

     Spanish muralist JOTALO has unveiled a captivating new artwork in Villa del Río, Córdoba, created for @vdrground as part of the X Bienal de Arte de Villa del Río (@xbienaldeartevdr), one of southern Spain’s most vibrant public art and cultural events.This latest mural by JOTALO presents a young woman with a firm and commanding gaze, enveloped in an atmosphere of soft floral hues and delicate light. Through carefully layered tones and a harmonious composition, the piece explores the duality between strength and fragility, growth and transience, and the natural rhythm of life.At its core, the work symbolizes the ascension of life from root to bloom, using flowers as metaphors for resilience and the continuous cycle of renewal. The upward movement of the composition mirrors both personal and collective evolution, a visual poem dedicated to growth, beauty, and impermanence.A Dialogue Between Humanity and NatureIn typical JOTALO fashion, the mural combines human presence with organic forms, merging emotional expression with environmental symbolism. The artist’s meticulous brushwork and nuanced use of color bring a sense of calm power to the wall, transforming a public façade into a reflection of contemporary human emotion in dialogue with nature.This work reinforces JOTALO’s position within the new generation of Spanish muralists who are redefining urban art in Andalusia and beyond. His approach, equal parts poetic and socially engaged, continues to enrich Spain’s cultural landscape with works that connect deeply to local communities.Community, Collaboration, and GratitudeSpeaking about the project, JOTALO expressed his appreciation for the community and the organizers:“The piece represents a young woman of firm and imposing gaze, surrounded by a sweet and floral atmosphere that conveys the strength of growth and the fragility of life, symbolized by the ascent of flowers from the root to their fullness. My heartfelt thanks to @taron79 for his dedication and kindness. It’s admirable how you bring muralism and street art to so many people. I leave with a friend and hope our paths cross again soon.”He also thanked the neighbors and locals who stopped by to watch the process, sharing conversations and encouragement that enriched the experience.About the ProjectThe Villa del Río Biennial of Art has become a cultural landmark in Córdoba, championing muralism and public art as tools for social connection. Through initiatives like VDR Ground, artists from across Spain and the world are invited to transform urban spaces into open-air galleries that reflect creativity, identity, and community pride.With this new mural, JOTALO continues to expand the visual language of Spanish street art, bridging the intimacy of human feeling with the vastness of natural cycles, an artistic statement that is both local and universal. More

  • in

    Illuminating the Ordinary: David Speed’s Neon Goose Installation

    David Speed’s Neon Goose Lands at WarwickA radiant new mural has taken flight at the University of Warwick, a glowing tribute to one of campus life’s most familiar faces.Titled Temporary Home, the large-scale neon artwork by acclaimed street artist David Speed transforms the University’s Piazza building into a vivid symbol of community, creativity, and connection. Created during Warwick’s ‘Welcome Week’ (29 September – 3 October), the mural celebrates the University’s 60th anniversary through collaboration and light. Drawing inspiration from the campus’ greylag geese, beloved mascots and icons of student life, Speed reimagines the bird as a geometric, luminescent figure soaring across the façade.“This mural is a true collaboration,” says Speed. “I spent over 60 hours on campus, connecting with faculty, students, and the wider community to understand what Warwick means to them. The geese felt like the perfect metaphor, social, migratory, always returning to a temporary home.”Across his week-long residency, Speed immersed himself in campus culture, hosting masterclasses, lectures, and a live Creative Rebels podcast recording. Beyond the University, he collaborated with local schools, sparking dialogue around creativity and belonging across Coventry. The final design, chosen by student and staff vote, merges two of Warwick’s defining emblems: the iconic greylag goose and the geometric form of the Faculty of Arts staircase. Together, they embody motion, ambition, and the architecture that frames campus life.“Temporary Home brings colour, energy, and connection to the heart of campus,” adds Professor Jonothan Neelands, Academic Director of Cultural Partnerships. “It reminds us that Warwick is a place of welcome and creativity, a temporary home that leaves a lasting mark.”Standing as both a luminous landmark and a symbol of community, Temporary Home captures what David Speed does best, turning light into story, and the everyday into something extraordinary.Photos by University of Warwick.Visit https://warwick.ac.uk/ for more information. For more on the Warwick’s Cultural Strategy, visit the website.More on the University of WarwickFounded in 1965, the University of Warwick is a world-leading institution known for its commitment to era-defining innovation across research and education. A connected ecosystem of staff, students, and alumni, the University fosters transformative learning, interdisciplinary collaboration, and bold industry partnerships across state-of-the-art facilities in the UK and global satellite hubs. Here, spirited thinkers push boundaries, experiment, and challenge convention to create a better world.More on David SpeedDavid Speed is a prominent London-based aerosol artist known for his signature neon pink artworks. Rising to prominence while painting the streets during the pandemic, he has become one of the most recognised creators in the UK’s contemporary art scene. Using the brightest pigments available, his work explores themes of identity, connection, and untold stories. David also hosts the #1 podcast Creative Rebels, which champions creativity through the voices of experts across the creative industries, and mentors young artists to help nurture the next generation of creators. More

  • in

    Ettore and Andromaca Bring Ancient Myth to the Streets of Comacchio

    On the walls of Via Spina in Comacchio, myth meets memory in a striking new mural that reimagines one of the city’s ancient treasures, a red-figure krater from the Museo del Delta Antico depicting Hector and Andromache’s farewell in Homer’s Iliad. Here, the classical scene is pulled into the present, transforming a moment of myth into a meditation on love, duty, and endurance. The artist bridges centuries, fusing the language of ancient pottery with the visual pulse of contemporary street art.Comacchio, a city carved by water and time, becomes both stage and subject. In this retelling, Hector and Andromache are reborn as fiocinini, the eel fishermen who once navigated the marshes under cover of night, risking punishment to feed their families. Their quiet heroism echoes through the composition, where Hector now offers his night’s catch to Andromache beneath a sky heavy with ancestral watchfulness.Every symbol painted across the wall, from the eel and paradello to the forcola, passera, and velucepi, roots the myth in the rhythm of the lagoon, weaving together local craft, history, and shared identity. Through this dialogue between past and present, the mural transforms ancient tragedy into a living narrative that speaks of courage, resilience, and the enduring spirit of the people of Comacchio. More

  • in

    Maurizio Cattelan and Avant Arte launch a global scavenger hunt with We Are the Revolution

    Avant Arte has teamed up with Italian provocateur Maurizio Cattelan for a collaboration that turns the art world upside down once again. Known for works that swing between absurdity and sharp critique, from the solid gold toilet America to the duct taped banana Comedian, Cattelan has built a reputation as the prankster philosopher of contemporary art. Now, with Avant Arte, he introduces We Are the Revolution (2025), a miniature resin sculpture that reimagines his 2000 piece Untitled while riffing on his legendary La Rivoluzione Siamo Noi.The workEach sculpture measures 23 x 6 x 6 cm, hand cast in resin and meticulously painted by artisans. Limited to 1,000 editions and priced at €1,500, the work will be released via a randomized draw on Avant Arte’s platform. Entries close on October 24, with successful collectors notified within 24 hours.Cattelan’s effigy, once monumental, is now scaled for the home, equal parts parody and self reflection. In his own words: “If you never thought you would be able to hang my effigy in your home, that makes two of us.”The huntIn true Cattelan spirit, the launch is not limited to a drop. From September 30 to October 7, Avant Arte will stage a city wide scavenger hunt across New York, London, and Amsterdam. Titled Where’s Maurizio?, the game hides editions of the sculpture in everyday places, from bodegas to antique shops to market stalls, transforming the ordinary into the unexpected.Clues will appear twice a day on Avant Arte’s dedicated microsite. New York participants will be able to physically chase down the works, while London and Amsterdam hunters will join digitally, submitting their answers online.And because context is everything, the pricing will shift with each location. A sculpture tucked away at a corner store might be priced at $0.99, while one in a chic antique dealership could reach €9,999. Value here is fluid, playful, and entirely situational, a wink at the art world’s obsession with price tags.Why it mattersCattelan has always used humor as a weapon and a mirror. His works question power, institutions, and the very mechanisms that assign worth. With We Are the Revolution and Where’s Maurizio?, the joke is not only on the art world, it is also an invitation for the public to play, to search, and to own a piece of the story.Mazdak Sanii, Avant Arte’s CEO, frames it as the beginning of a series inspired by Cattelan’s landmark Guggenheim show All: “Collaborating with one of the most influential artists of our time has been an incredible experience, and we’re eager to share it with our community of collectors around the world.”About the artistBorn in Padua in 1960, Maurizio Cattelan has spent more than three decades testing the limits of art and spectatorship. His works live between the ridiculous and the profound, from a taxidermied horse suspended from the ceiling to a Pope struck by a meteorite. Beyond his solo projects, he co founded TOILETPAPER, the cult image magazine and creative studio with photographer Pierpaolo Ferrari, merging art and pop culture at global scale.Auction houses continue to affirm his reach. In November 2024, Comedian fetched $6.2 million at Sotheby’s. But Cattelan’s true currency is provocation, a constant reminder that value, meaning, and context are always up for grabs. More

  • in

    MATRIZ — SpY orders the void with a suspended geometry in an old Hungarian power plant

    Inside the monumental shell of a former turbine factory in Hungary, Spanish artist SpY unveils two ambitious works, Matriz and Cycles, projects that extend his ongoing exploration of geometry, perception, and the transformation of public space.In Matriz, a precise three-dimensional grid of black rectangles hovers in suspension, defying gravity as it organizes emptiness with silent order. Floating corridors and columns materialize from nothing, inviting visitors to walk through the void itself.These forms are not walls, yet they define; they do not touch the ground, yet they orient. SpY has long been known for turning the overlooked elements of daily life into catalysts for reflection, and here he elevates absence into structure, creating a disorienting but poetic architecture of suspension.Cycles, presented alongside Matriz, shifts the focus from space to time.A kinetic sculpture composed of nine concentric rings stacked in fragile balance, the work rotates in perpetual motion. Driven by a mechanism at its base, the rings unfold an endless choreography of intersecting patterns.Figures appear stable, then dissolve into ambiguity, producing illusions that destabilize perception. In Cycles, movement itself becomes material: time and instability are sculpted into form, and the audience is drawn into a hypnotic dialogue between order and collapse.Together, the two works articulate the dual poles of SpY’s practice, order and dislocation, rigor and play, emptiness and saturation. Emerging from Madrid’s pioneering graffiti scene in the 1980s, SpY has become a leading voice in contemporary urban intervention, creating works that range from subtle interventions in the streets to monumental installations on civic architecture. His language is precise yet open, playful yet critical, often questioning systems of control while offering moments of poetry and surprise in the everyday landscape.By staging Matriz and Cycles within the raw industrial vastness of the INOTA Festival, SpY demonstrates once again his ability to charge environments with new meaning. The turbine hall becomes a stage for two elemental experiences: the ordering of space through suspension, and the unfolding of time through motion. Visitors do not simply view these works, they traverse them, inhabit them, and are altered by them.Presented and commissioned by INOTA Festival, these projects reaffirm SpY’s position as one of the most vital voices in contemporary public art, an artist who turns geometry, void, and time into materials for human experience. More

  • in

    “S H A R E” by Giulio Vesprini in Italy

    For the first time, Street Art has taken root in Civitanova Marche’s industrial zone—a striking intervention in a landscape defined by functionality and productivity. Spearheaded by local artist Giulio Vesprini, this initiative marks more than just a creative endeavor; it’s a bold cultural statement. “Bringing art to a context where culture struggles to flourish is like planting a seed in concrete,” Vesprini reflects. The mural, rich in color and layered meaning, reimagines the grey surroundings by infusing them with artistic life.This artistic mission closely mirrors the ethos of Navitas Coworking, the forward-thinking entity that has transformed a traditionally industrial space into a vibrant coworking hub. Their support of this project signifies a modern form of patronage—investing in art not for its decoration, but for its power to inspire, transform, and recontextualize. In doing so, they foster creativity in places that have long been overlooked by cultural initiatives.Vesprini’s mural draws from a palette deeply connected to the area itself. He meticulously sampled local hues, creating a composition that feels both organic and intentional, as if nature were subtly reclaiming the concrete. The result is not just a visual break from monotony, but a vision for what such spaces can become—creative, alive, and dynamic. Here, beauty transcends aesthetics and becomes a declaration of purpose and possibility.Born in Civitanova Marche in 1980, Giulio Vesprini is no stranger to the interplay between art and architecture. With academic roots in fine arts and architecture, his practice is grounded in minimalism and the reactivation of public spaces. His works often explore underutilized or economically unappealing areas, proposing new ways to view and use them. In this latest project, Vesprini doesn’t just paint a wall—he redefines the space around it. More

  • in

    Hï Ibiza x Fin DAC Collaboration

    As part of the high-profile launch of James Hype and MEDUZA’s ‘Our House’ summer residency on Monday night’s at the world’s number one nightclub Hï Ibiza, acclaimed artist Fin DAC has unveiled a celebratory collection and bespoke body of work in its honour.This one-of-a-kind series including a mural, original artworks and limited edition prints celebrates the groundbreaking innovative residency set to electrify the club’s main space, The Theatre, with a fresh and unforgettable energy. Fusing DJing, live piano, cutting-edge MIDI controls, and spontaneous performance energy, the relentless innovation of MEDUZA continues with hybrid-live concept MEDUZA3, as James Hype debuts his explosive new visual performance concept, SYNC. Hype’s actions on the decks will seamlessly synchronise with an array of light cues on the LED booth to showcase and illustrate his next-level technical skills, high-intensity energy like never before.This art-meets-music collision, taking place over the seasonal months of June, July, August and September 2025 showcases a far reaching and unifying collaboration of truly top tier artists. Within their respective creative pursuits; Fin DAC, the globetrotting Irish mural master, Hï IBIZA; the number one nightclub for the last four years and James Hype and MEDUZA; two of the biggest global DJs, each party sits nearly peerless at their top of their games.Expertly overseen by Club Class Music Management, the curators of unforgettable nightlife and West Contemporary – leading art concierge and consultancy, each arm of this union injects a standard of excellence that makes for a fascinating link up with Fin DAC tasked with creating the visuals to amplify and promote the ‘Our House’ club night.Ibiza-watchers have already noticed the unmistakable marks of Fin DAC’s well-used spray cans as the veteran of over 150 murals across the world has already nailed his creative mast to the wall by painting ‘Ultra’. This 30ft x 30ft female portrait mural, equipped with his trademark painted mask, now adorns the side of the Hï IBIZA premises, purposefully placed so that it immediately faces the soon-to-be-full queues of revellers lining up to complete their club pilgrimage to the world’s very best. Over the coming months, four of Fin DAC’s artworks and characters, titled ‘Delta’, ‘Ultra’, ‘Exciter’ and ‘Violater’ will be the lead images of ‘Our House’, promoting the innovative live show at the club, with the expected levels of creative excellence befitting of such a major link up.As part of the process, Fin DAC created images of James Hype and MEDUZA wearing his famous masks for the important show posters – a first for the artist.Original artworks and limited editions will be both on display and available to purchase over the summer season, with only 50 editions of each image created by an artist known for selling out entire collections of works within minutes of release. Each hand-signed and numbered print has a uniquely hand drawn tattoo and artist logo.These will be available by West Contemporary Editions, beginning in June.For tickets to the “Our House” residency visit here. More

  • in

    “Tilsammen” and “From Tithe to Taxes” by Telmo and Spear in Aalborg, Denmark.

    “Tilsammen” by TELMOWith the 12th year of ‘Out in the Open’ Belgian SPEAR and Dutch TELMO has just finished two new murals in Aalborg, Denmark.“Tilsammen” literally carries the sense of “to together”, which makes sense when thinking of it as things being added up or gathered into a whole. Going towards being together.” -TelmoFor the last 13 years TELMO has been part of the Duo TELMO MIEL, world-renowned for their gigantic surrealistic murals.Famous worldwide for his incredible attention to detail featuring playful abstractions of reality, the artist aims to inspire the viewer to approach subjects from new perspectives – layer upon layer.Recent paintings contain playfulness in abstraction of reality, attempting to make the viewer see subjects with a different eye; Growing into using multiple images, layered over one another. By cutting away a top layer, another comes forward to complete the design. This provides a convenient abstraction, but the intend is more so to create a sort of marriage between figurative parts. Pieces that weren’t normally seen as one, but now complete each other in weird and beautiful ways.“From Tithe to Taxes” by SPEARIn the 16th century, Tiendeladen served as a central storage facility for the natural goods that farmers delivered as tithe – a tax to the church paid in the form of crops. This cultural and functional history is a vital source of inspiration for SPEAR, who reactivates the site’s significance through layers of symbolism, visual references, and narrative composition.The mural functions as a kind of temporal membrane – an artistic meeting point where the structures and rituals of the past are reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. With precision in detail, sensitivity in texture, and a strong sense of compositional balance, SPEAR stages history with a visual poetry that invites reflection and rediscovery, bringing history into a powerful contemporary expression.SPEAR is known for his distinctive artistic practice, where classical painting techniques merge with a raw, urban aesthetic, bringing classical painting into contemporary.By drawing on the technical mastery of the old masters and anchoring it within contemporary visual culture, he creates works that balance the historically rooted with the present, often manifested in monumental murals.This artistic dialogue between past and present is particularly evident in the current work, which is based on the historical context of Tiendeladen in Aalborg.“This mural was created on Tiendeladen in Aalborg, a historic tithe barn where the Church once collected taxes from farmers. By painting directly on this site, I want to update and expand on the conversation about taxation and its role in society today. One side of the mural shows a hand secretly taking grain from a nearly empty sack beneath dead flowers, symbolizing opacity, misuse of resources, and erosion of trust. The other side features a transparent jar pouring out grain, with flourishing flowers above it, this jar is a direct metaphor for openness and transparent management of public resources, nurturing a thriving democracy.” – SpearPhoto credits: Fleron Fotografi More