Bellissima

While wandering through the alleys of Rome, I chanced upon a complex image. Initially, a movie starlet's face had been affixed to the wall. Subsequently, someone had spray-painted a body to accompany her. Around this central figure, other individuals had glued and painted a diverse array of items, ranging from depictions of Jesus to cartoon dogs and hot air balloons. Each addition to this wall mural contributed to the narrative that creativity resides within us all. It was an intuitive and collaborative effort, resulting in something truly beautiful: Bellissima.

Expanding upon the theme of layers, I took my photograph and replicated it five times, each rendition in a different color. I then employed my own artistic style to layer them, adhering them to cement using wheatpaste, much like how graffiti artists work their magic.

I am inherently optimistic, with hope as my core value. This principle appears in my artwork as I breathe new life into items that are often undervalued, underappreciated, or discarded. Whether it's a deteriorating board from a used pallet or a rusty old nail, I transform them into something whose beauty is more than their original, utilitarian functions. Through my art, I aim to convey the idea that individuals, regardless of how diminished or disregarded they may feel, have the capacity to rise above their circumstances and radiate. As a consequence, those who engage with my art are prompted to question societal norms as well as our perceptions of art and its materials.

Materials: Cement, Rust, Acrylic, Blueprint Paper, Wheatpaste, Charcoal, Epoxy, Joint Compound, Stucco