Coco Davez (Spanish, b.1989) Keith Haring
signed 'Coco Davez' (lower right); further signed, inscribed and dated 'Valeria Palmeiro/Madrid/2019' (verso) acrylic on canvas Unframed: 129 x 94 cm. (50 3/4 x 37 in.) Framed: 143.5 x 110 cm. (56 1/2 x 43 1/4 in.)Provenance: With Maddox Gallery, London, where purchased by the present ownerNotes: Coco Davez, was born as Valeria Palmerio and is a self-taught Madrid-based artist known for her vibrant paintings, her photography and art direction. Her pseudonym has a playful origin: "Coco" comes from her favourite Sesame Street character (Super Coco), chosen because it could belong to either a man or a woman, while "Dávez" is an invented, Latin-sounding surname. Today, she often reclaims her real name, treating "Coco Dávez" as the overarching brand and project for her creative output. Her most well-known works are her Faceless Series of 1915. Originally a mistake, it began while Davez was struggling to paint the facial features of Patti Smith. When Davez covered Smith’s face entirely, she realised that Patti Smith was still identifiable as the cultural icon that she was. She the subsequently completed ‘Faceless’ portraits of other icons including, Frida Khalo, David Bowie, Elton John and David Hockney to name a couple. Despite being faceless, her figures are so instantly recognisable, from Basquiat’s hair to Stevie Wonder’s dark glasses. Her work is defined by bold, primary colours, striking silhouettes, and a blend of neorealism and pop art. She is heavily influenced by colour psychology, choosing palettes intuitively to reflect the mood or personality of her subjects. Dávez began gaining traction in 2010 while living in London and posting her work on Instagram. Her digital-friendly aesthetic quickly caught the attention of major brands. She has since collaborated with high-profile companies including Chanel, Prada, Dior, Vogue, Samsung, and Netflix.
[ translate ]signed 'Coco Davez' (lower right); further signed, inscribed and dated 'Valeria Palmeiro/Madrid/2019' (verso) acrylic on canvas Unframed: 129 x 94 cm. (50 3/4 x 37 in.) Framed: 143.5 x 110 cm. (56 1/2 x 43 1/4 in.)Provenance: With Maddox Gallery, London, where purchased by the present ownerNotes: Coco Davez, was born as Valeria Palmerio and is a self-taught Madrid-based artist known for her vibrant paintings, her photography and art direction. Her pseudonym has a playful origin: "Coco" comes from her favourite Sesame Street character (Super Coco), chosen because it could belong to either a man or a woman, while "Dávez" is an invented, Latin-sounding surname. Today, she often reclaims her real name, treating "Coco Dávez" as the overarching brand and project for her creative output. Her most well-known works are her Faceless Series of 1915. Originally a mistake, it began while Davez was struggling to paint the facial features of Patti Smith. When Davez covered Smith’s face entirely, she realised that Patti Smith was still identifiable as the cultural icon that she was. She the subsequently completed ‘Faceless’ portraits of other icons including, Frida Khalo, David Bowie, Elton John and David Hockney to name a couple. Despite being faceless, her figures are so instantly recognisable, from Basquiat’s hair to Stevie Wonder’s dark glasses. Her work is defined by bold, primary colours, striking silhouettes, and a blend of neorealism and pop art. She is heavily influenced by colour psychology, choosing palettes intuitively to reflect the mood or personality of her subjects. Dávez began gaining traction in 2010 while living in London and posting her work on Instagram. Her digital-friendly aesthetic quickly caught the attention of major brands. She has since collaborated with high-profile companies including Chanel, Prada, Dior, Vogue, Samsung, and Netflix.
[ translate ]
