More stories

  • 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

  • in

    New Collection by Yellowpop x André Saraiva

    Yellowpop, a home decor brand specializing in LED neon signs and known for its exclusive artist collaborations, reunites with André Saraiva to launch a collection of five bright new pieces featuring never-before-seen formats such as a Lightbox and a Mirror sculpture.André Saraiva is an artist known for his graffiti work, which helped shape the visual language of street art in the 1990s.His style merges illustration and identity, centered around his iconic character Mr. A—a smiling, top-hatted figure that appears on walls and in cities around the world. In collaboration with Yellowpop, he brings Mr. A into a new dimension, translating his signature symbols into glowing neon works.Pink appears in each piece—one of the artist’s favorite colors. André finds it “very friendly” and explains:“It will always match, and it will even be a good matchmaker between two colors that are a bit opposite when they are next to each other. So the pink makes everything harmonious.”Yellowpop took a creative leap by going beyond their usual neon signs, bringing to life André’s concept of the mirror. The artist shared:“I like to think about something that you can hold, and these are elements that you can find in some of my sculptures that you have here—where you have doors—and so it’s all like the structure slash mirror slash circus slash neon slash nightclub.”The André x Yellowpop collection will be available in very limited quantities, with 24-hour early access on June 4 for those who sign up.Produced in limited quantities, this is a unique opportunity for fans and collectors to own one of these exclusive pieces. Visit www.yellowpop.com and follow Yellowpop on Instagram for early access, updates, and to shop the collection before it sells out.About YellowpopYellowpop is a home decor brand on a mission to change the way we decorate our spaces.By partnering with globally recognized artists, Yellowpop transforms iconic artworks into vibrant neon designs that inspire creativity and joy. Our LED neon signs are designed to inspire boldness and brighten spaces, creating a unique way to bring art into everyday life.With collaborations that span the art and design world, Yellowpop is making homes—and the world—a brighter place. More

  • in

    Banksy’s New Piece in Marseille Becomes a Tribute to Memory and Loss

    On a quiet wall in Marseille, Banksy has once again transformed urban space into a mirror of human emotion. This time, the message hits closer to the heart. On Rue Félix Frégier, a freshly stenciled black lighthouse now rises from a beige wall, accompanied by the words:“I want to be what you saw in me.”It’s unclear whether the piece is a universal reflection or a deeply personal statement, but for those of us who’ve followed Banksy’s work for decades, this one carries the unmistakable weight of loss. Word has spread that this piece is linked to the memory of an old friend of the artist, someone who passed away recently. If true, it adds another layer of meaning to an already haunting intervention.At first glance, the lighthouse stands alone, quiet and symbolic. But step back and the composition reveals its brilliance. It’s a trick of shadow. The bollard in front of the wall casts a real shadow and Banksy has extended it into illusion. The lighthouse is not a structure, but a shadow, rising from something mundane. It’s not there, and yet it is. Just like the memory of someone who once saw the best in you.This makes the accompanying text all the more poignant.Not “I am what you saw in me,” but“I want to be.”It’s a promise. A regret. A longing.📍 Why Marseille?Marseille has always been a city of in-betweens. A place where ships dock, where people arrive and leave. A city steeped in movement and memory. There’s no more fitting location for a tribute like this where a bollard, a wall, and a shadow become a lighthouse not just in form, but in spirit.✅ Verified LocationThe work was revealed Thursday on Banksy’s official Instagram. Though its exact location was initially a mystery, it sits quietly on Rue Félix Frégier in Marseille. No barriers. No plaques. Just raw emotion, open to the street.As someone who’s seen thousands of interventions on walls around the world, I can say with certainty. This isn’t a mural for attention. It’s a piece of mourning. A whispered tribute. A lighthouse for someone who once saw the light in him and maybe in all of us. More