Subsign: First, can you tell us a few things about yourself?
Gabriele: Sure, I’m Gabriele, a 33 years old contemporary artist from Italy. Started from graffiti in 2004 and migrated on canvas in 2018. I’ve been featured in many shows such as Art Basel, Frieze etc.
Subsign: What was your childhood like? Do you think your childhood experiences have influenced your present creative endeavors?
Gabriele: My childhood has been very quiet, but I can’t say the same for myself. I`ve always been a crazy kid rolling around and making noises.
I was overstimulated by everything I got in touch with. Also, I used to draw a lot.
Subsign: What did you want to be as a grown up?
Gabriele: I remember at one point I wanted to be an archaeologist, but then I never had a clear plan in mind. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I realized I had to be an artist.
Subsign: What does your workstation look like?
Gabriele: My workstation is a beautiful mess.
Or at least that’s what I like to call it.
Because even though it’s chaotic, I find peace in it. All the voices are gone once I pick up the brush.
Subsign: Do you have a work style? How would you describe it?
Gabriele: My style is a mixture of different pieces: street art, art brut, with a sprinkle of realism, and contemporary figurative.
Subsign: Can you share with us how your creative process works?
Gabriele: It varies, but typically it begins with a dream or a vision inspired by a real story or fact that I’ve seen or heard about. I then apply my vision to it and it becomes the works you see. It can change during the process and can take anywhere from 2 to 3 days up to 1 month for completion.
Subsign: What is your favorite work you have done so far?
Gabriele: So far, my latest works are my favorites. Especially from an aesthetic perspective. But I’m really bonded to personality series and Shamans. This last one was a testament of what my life would have become, years before knowing it.
Subsign: Where do you get your inspiration from?
Gabriele: From life experiences.
Mine or from people I know.
Dreams I have.
Vision that appears in my head.
Subsign: What advice would you give to someone starting out in the creative field of work?
Gabriele: Don’t think too much.
Start doing it.
Create a lot, evolve.
Keep changing.
If you are not willing to change, you won’t be able to survive as an artist.
At least from my point of view.
Subsign: If you could have a super power, what would it be?
Gabriele: Time traveling, in order to meet people and see things that could change my perspective and life.
Subsign: Can you recommend a book, a song and a movie, for our readers?
Gabriele: A book, I’d say “Animal farm” from George Orwell.
A song, “Creep” by Radiohead.
A movie, “The Crow”.
Subsign: If you could throw any kind of party, what would it be like and what famous people would you invite?
Gabriele: Well, it would be an intimate pool party in a hot place (I hate cold) with my close friends and a couple of celebrities like Eminem, Ozzy Osborne, Basquiat and Bacon.
Thank you, Gabriele, for being a part of our Spotlight!
If you know an artist that should be in the spotlight, contact us at teodora@subsign.co.
For more of Gabriele‘s work, you can follow his work here: Gabriele on Instagram.
