Profile of the artist Claude BLO RICCI
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While firmly rooted in traditional graffiti both in terms of materials and composition, BLO's current artistic practice demonstrates a keen awareness of transitioning from the urban landscape to gallery spaces. This transition represents more than a mere shift in medium; it encompasses a change in context, audience, and exposure. In the quiet space between these realms, BLO's paintings come to life.
BLO's initial involvement with graffiti can be traced back to his past in Lyon, France. At the outset, his work was driven not only by the sheer necessity to create but also by a desire to subvert or, in a sense, disrupt. Creativity serves as a tool for him to challenge, reverse, or distort aspects of everyday life. His work showcases a distinct swiftness of the hand, an unfettered quality of line, and a choice of materials (frequently employing spray paint and ink markers) that directly draw from the traditions of graffiti.
While BLO remains actively engaged in urban settings, he has been gradually moving away from letter-based styles and illustrative characters. His current street art has evolved to encompass more figurative elements, drawing from subjects like religious iconography, sex, death, and classical painting. Within this exploration of subject matter, another parallel with graffiti emerges—the assertion of power through the act of defacing or reappropriating familiar images. The shift in context between the street and the studio does not fragment his work but rather nurtures a visual interdependence, reinforcing both aspects of his practice.
BLO's use of recognizable images and themes within a classical context establishes a direct connection with the audience. The human body, particularly the sexualized female form, harks back to the concept of the "male gaze," as seen in his use of truncated bodies, freeform lines, and provocative confrontations. Furthermore, BLO's reconfiguration of the physical body echoes the influences of surrealist sculptor and photographer Hans Bellmer through the deployment of physical abstraction and negative space. His work is replete with iconic references, including religious imagery (notably the iconic Virgin Mary and the Christ Child), memento mori, and occult symbolism.
Working between the street and the studio can pose challenges, yet BLO skillfully leverages this divide to play with references and media, enriching the depth and complexity of his artistic expression.
