Federico Massa Solo Show "Calaca" at 317 Gallery
317 Gallery announced the solo show ‘Calaca’ by contemporary urban artist Federico Massa aka Iena Cruz. It will run from October 10th to November 6th with an opening reception on Saturday, October 10th, from 6PM to 9PM. In the spirit of the Halloween season, the artist will present a series of works inspired by Mexican culture.
The exhibition was organized in collaboration with ST.ART, a New York based creative agency that represents contemporary urban artists and is set on a quest to support the booming culture of street art through various creative projects.
A CALACA (Spanish pronunciation: [kaˈlaka], a colloquial Mexican Spanish name for skeleton) is a figure of a skull or skeleton (usually human) commonly used for decoration during the Mexican Day of the Dead festival. As with other aspects of the Day of the Dead festival, calacas are generally depicted as joyous rather than mournful figures. This draws on the Mexican belief that the dead should not be thought of with sorrow; rather, they should be celebrated.
Federico Massa(also known in the global street art world as both CRUZ and Iena Cruz) is a university-trained fine artist from Milan who now resides and works in Brooklyn, New York. In his teen years in 1990s Milan, Massa forged a solid reputation as a rebel in the burgeoning street art movement. Pursuing his passion for art, he entered the Academy of Fine Arts of Brera in Milan where he developed a signature layered style of spray paint stencilling and fine, calibrated brush work on a range of surfaces.
Federico arrived to NYC in 2010, where he lived in a studio loft with other artists and filmmakers from Mexico. This is where he became acqainted with Mexican culture and the calavera style which now influences his work. Over time, he has developed a positive reputation among the respected street artists of New York. His signature style is constantly being honed and furthered in large scale outdoor wall murals, studio canvases, and sculptures. His unique approach is inspired by experiences like trips to Mexico and abroad. Federico now resides and works in Brooklyn, NYC.
Other projects by Iena Cruz.
