BIOGRAPHY

 

Andrea "FACE" Facelli 

FACE grew up in the 80's, in the midst of the international skate craze. He belonged to the second generation of Italian skaters, predating the current "street" phenomenon. This group cultivated an interest in creating clothing and accessories that featured graphic design and illustration.

He started traveling internationally in the early 90's and quickly came into contact with some of the worlds foremost graffiti writers. During numerous travels to New York and Los Angeles, he deepened his familiarity with this world, living and writing alongside some of its most honored writers and theorists.

From this time, FACE became one of the first Italian artists to take part in Aerosol bombing, obsessively and copiously gaining presence in unauthorized spaces of all kinds.

At the same time, he began applying his rigorous aesthetic to graphic design. This passion brought him to create two clothing lines: Supernova and Letal Entertainment. He designed and produced clothing pieces as well as creating the graphics and accessories. Both lines were sold in stores including Colette, Fiorucci, Union, Nom de guerre, SSUR, Apartment and more.

Through the years, the originality of his collages, that are mainly made of fastidious clippings from rare vintage magazines and priceless antique books, has been a fusion of geometric shapes in contrast with classic and religious iconography images highlighted by a fascinating and macabre romanticism, which, paradoxically, owes its freshness to years of scrupulous research.

He mixes the sacred and profane to create a magnetic and disquieting aesthetic as can be see in his iconic Virgin Mary statues, which he obscures by dipping them in anthracite varnish or sealing them in layers of dark sealing wax.

His peculiar style has made him a precursor to many of high fashion's current trends and an inspiration for young alternative designers.

He has collaborated with various international brands such as Supreme, Wacko Maria, FUCT, Vlone, Nike, Slam Jam, Le Fix, Son of the cheese, Zoltar, Gourmet, Snafu and Tokyo Black Star etc.

During his artistic career his works have been purchased by inspired collectors of sacred art, contemporary art or have been donated as homage to famous exponents of music, art and photography such as: Mat Nicholls (bring me the horizon) Docta Woo ( Tattoo Artist ) RK (photographer/dj/designer) Luca Benini, ASAP Rocky, Edwin Faeh, Atsuhiko Mori, John Buscemi and Edison Chen.

Lives and work in Milan.