David

Fresno

Today we are thrilled to present a special edition of Collé! This issue showcases the incredible world of contemporary collage, but with a unique twist. Instead of our usual in-house curation, we've invited a special guest curator to select the featured artist and provide their expert insights.

Kicking off our guest-curated series is Max-o-matic. As one of our first features himself (Issue No. 5), we are honored to have Max back to contribute to our publication, and are sure you will enjoy what he has to share.

David Fresno is a Valladolid-based graffiti writer and industrial engineer (in that order, as he often says). He has been painting on the streets since the early 2000s and carefully observing the urban environment, which has given him a keen eye for the marks that (formal and informal) visual communication and expression leave on the city's surfaces. Like an anthropologist, Fresno studies the remaining layers of past human interaction in the urban landscape and playfully interacts with them, as if attempting to rewrite the history that can be read in the walls.

Guest Curator — Máximo Tuja

In my opinion, collage is much more than just an artistic technique; it is a language of expression that is open to creation and constantly evolving. I find infinite possibilities to experiment with in my artistic development through collage. When I look at the global collage scene, I see it as a battlefield of different styles, similar to what occurs in the world of graffiti.

David Fresno

My roots are in classic graffiti, but after decades of experience, I felt the need to expand and express myself through new forms that may be different in shape but still aligned with the unwritten rules of graffiti. One of the key elements of my work is collage, which I combine with painting and photography.

My work is deeply connected to the streets. I have a love for vandalism and out-of-control actions, and I explore the traces, remnants, and visual impact of these actions on the environment. I find comfort in observing and carefully analyzing the decaying landscape of the city, and I use these observations as inspiration for my work. I strive to tell my story of the streets with a sense of spontaneity and informality in my execution, resulting in works that constantly question the concept of abstraction and find a connection between the streets and my art.

David Fresno

David Fresno is from Valladolid, Spain, where he continues to work today.

GUEST CURATOR

MÁXIMO TUJA

Máximo Tuja aka Max-O-Matic is a Barcelona-based designer and curator who has been working in the contemporary collage scene for two decades. Max has an impressive resume, including being the founder and director of The Weird Show, and has selected a phenomenal mixed-media artist for this special issue.

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