Popay (1971) - Sans titre

Popay, whose real name is Juan Pablo de Ayguavives, was born in 1971 in Barcelona, Spain. He grew up in Paris, where he began painting in the streets in the mid-1980s. He lives and works today in Felletin, in the Creuse.
Considered one of the pioneers of graffiti and Parisian street art, Popay belongs to the founding generation that greatly contributed to the emergence and development of urban art in France. A recognized artist, his career is notably documented by a Wikipedia page that traces more than thirty-five years of creation. He is regularly invited to create monumental frescoes, public commissions, projects with foundations, and artist residencies in France and abroad. His works today appear in numerous private and public collections and are sought after by urban art enthusiasts around the world.
For nearly forty years, Popay has developed a singular body of work, at the crossroads of graffiti, painting, and illustration. His current practice revolves mainly around two complementary approaches. On the one hand, he creates geometric compositions built from horizontals, verticals, and obliques, arranged in color blocks and rhythmic motifs. On the other hand, he develops these structures into impressive imaginary cities seen in axonometric perspective, dense and teeming, where architectures, streets, cars, trucks, pink clouds, airplanes, blue cats, ground-marking arrows, iguanas, and characters with strange proportions unfold in an infinite detail.
But Popay’s universe is not limited to this city-focused inquiry. A highly talented draftsman, painter, and illustrator, he has always developed a free and virtuoso graphic practice. His career has led him to collaborate with publishing, comics, posters, album covers, fanzines, as well as numerous cultural projects. This remarkable mastery of drawing allows him to create portraits with strong expressive intensity as well as characters, animals, and creatures imbued with whimsy, humor, and poetry.
The fish presented here perfectly illustrates this other facet of his work. Through the richness of its expression, the finesse of its drawing, and the freedom of its interpretation, this work testifies to Popay’s exceptional illustrating qualities. Much more than a simple animal representation, this fish becomes a true character, immediately alive and endearing, revealing the artist’s graphical sensitivity.
This is an original painting on paper by a historic figure of the French art scene, whose rarity on the market constitutes a true opportunity for collectors.

Framing:
This work is presented in a frame entirely custom-made by L’Arbre à Cadres, a Parisian framing house renowned for the excellence of its craftsmanship.
The drawing is highlighted by an aluminum moulding selected from the higher-quality models in the collection. Its bright red lacquer, highly resistant, was chosen in perfect harmony with the tones of the work, enhancing its intensity and visual presence.
The whole is enhanced by a double-thickness matte, creating a subtle depth effect that isolates the drawing and gives it a museum-grade presentation.
To guarantee optimal conservation while providing exceptional reading comfort, the artwork is protected by anti-reflective and UV-protective glass, allowing the drawing to be fully admired without the parasitic reflections usually produced by standard glazing.
This framing, whose realization cost is around four hundred euros, testifies to the special care taken in presenting this unique work by Popay.
The whole is offered ready to hang, in a case designed to ensure both protection, conservation, and the durable enhancement of this original work by Popay.