ENDLESS - From street art to fashion and the Venice Biennale

Endless a London-based contemporary artist, is not your typical street artist. While he enjoys using spray paint cans on the streets of the UK capital, his works are also showcased in galleries and private homes. Notably, he has collaborated with famous artists such as Gilbert & George and luxury brands like Karl Lagerfeld. His art addresses themes such as celebrity culture, consumerism, fashion, advertising, and other facets of modern society.

In this interview, he reveals his sources of inspiration, the role of art in society, and why he chooses to keep his identity hidden.

How did you get into art? Have you always known you wanted to be an artist? Does it come from your childhood?

I've been an artist for as long as I can remember. Creating art was always something I wanted to do, but when I was young, I didn't understand what being an artist entailed or how it could be a career and lifestyle. It was through studying further and learning about the history of art that I realized how others had shaped their lives around art and made cultural impacts. From the beginning, I knew I wanted to be an artist, and I'm still navigating my direction.

Have your studies in Cambridge shaped your art career?

Absolutely. At Cambridge, I discovered that screen printing and mixed media were my preferred methods of expressing ideas. The environment there gave me the freedom, space, and equipment to experiment. I also learned new ways of thinking and how to contextualize my thoughts.

How do you come up with ideas? What inspires you the most?

Ideas come and go; I have endless ideas constantly. The trick is identifying the ones that resonate with me the most and bringing them to life. My inspiration comes from observing the world and how humans interact with their surroundings—through advertising, TV, magazines, or simply walking the streets of a city.

Why street art?

Street art, to me, represents freedom. It's a way of showcasing my work without needing permission. Like most endeavours, it requires overcoming adversities and pushing oneself to the limit to succeed. Street art, being illegal, adds an element of power and meaning. What other genre does defy laws to allow for expression?

La Biennale Arte in Venezia. How did you end up representing San Marino?

In 2022, I became the first street artist to exhibit within the official Venice Biennale, representing the San Marino pavilion. My gallery, Cris Contini Contemporary, facilitated my numerous visits to Italy and established a connection with San Marino, leading to this project.

Some of your artworks are quite provocative. For example, Crotch Grab Gold or Lizzie Vuitton Union (below). Is this intentional? What's the message behind this?

All my work takes imagery from advertising and media and remixes it to give it new meaning and style. To me, the world around us is far more provocative than any artwork could be. Each piece conveys a moment in time, using recognizable images, fonts, and logos to tell a story about modern society's obsessions, seductions, and human dispositions.

In your opinion, what role does art play in society? Is there such a thing as bad art?

Art should explore the world, present new perspectives, and document life in all its aspects, both good and bad. "Bad art" is subjective; it's a matter of opinion and taste. We all have opinions, right or wrong, so while there may be good and bad art, it all remains art.

Fashion is one of the topics you explore in your works, such as Chapel Skull, Kate Worship, or your collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld (below). Why is fashion important to you?

Fashion imagery interests me. When I started placing my work on the streets, the first things I noticed were billboards, shops, and fashion advertisements. I saw this as the original street art and began remaking these images to provide new meanings and ideas about the world.

Among your exhibitions, you did a "one night show." What exactly is that?

A one-night show is an exhibition open for just one evening. The opening night of any exhibition has a unique vibe and energy that isn't present for the rest of the exhibition's duration. A one-night-only exhibition captures this vibrant, fleeting energy.

Which piece of art are you most proud of and why?

I always say the last artwork I made because it represents my most recent creative energy and excitement to see how it turns out.

What artist or personality is your idol?

I don't have any idols. Studying art, you learn from what came before you and pick up on styles and techniques that speak to you. However, it's crucial to have the freedom to explore and create something new. I try not to be influenced by current art world trends, as they don't interest me. I have a vision and know when I'm working towards it or veering off track.

Are you staying anonymous because you are a street artist, or is there another reason for it?

Initially, I wore a mask and used the name Endless due to the illegal nature of street art. But I also like the idea of not showing the bottom half of my face in a selfie-obsessed world with AI manipulation and face recognition. Perhaps it's a good idea for us all to become infamous for five minutes.

What's the next big thing for Endless?

I'm working on a new body of work that I've been developing for many years and hope to showcase soon. I will also continue displaying my work on the streets and experimenting with new ideas.