Avvassena: The Gen Z Artist Navigating Art, Identity, and the Market

Anna Vassena, born in Milan in 1998 and working under the pseudonym Avvassena, is an Italian artist who blends painting, sculpture, installation, and printmaking. After earning degrees in Interior Design and Communication Design from Politecnico di Milano, she began collaborating with galleries in Italy and abroad. In 2023, she exhibited at the Cica Museum in South Korea. Her vibrant, swirling works aim to translate contemporary issues and emotions. Avvassena started exhibiting on the streets at age 16 with the senior artists of Via Bagutta. Her first official show was at Haze Gallery in Berlin, where she created a dramatic lighting reveal. She has since shown in Berlin, Italy, and South Korea. Her practice explores hidden realities, relationships, identity, and humanity's connection to nature. She works across media, choosing the best medium for each concept. Avvassena views the art world as a 'splendid mustang' and the market as a 'white tiger.' She currently has no fixed gallery representation. Future plans include developing the UBUNTU project, inspired by the sub-Saharan concept of interconnectedness, previewed at Milan Design Week 2023 and with installations in Berlin and Milan.