Flavio Favelli and Mark Bradford Open Shops at Venice Biennale

During the 2017 Venice Biennale, Italian artist Flavio Favelli (born 1967 in Florence) opened Univers, a temporary 'metaphysical' shop near the Giardini and Arsenale. The shop sells unique works made from out-of-production soda cans and bottles, each priced at €20. Buyers receive a receipt instead of a certificate of authenticity, challenging the art market's norms and the concept of the multiple. Meanwhile, US representative Mark Bradford (born 1961 in Los Angeles) launched Process Collettivo, a six-year social enterprise in collaboration with Rio Terà dei Pensieri, a Venetian nonprofit cooperative that supports local prisoners. The shop, near the Basilica dei Frari, sells handicrafts made by inmates and signed bags by Bradford. All proceeds are reinvested into the project, which provides vocational training and personal services. Bradford met the public at the shop on Thursday, May 11. Both projects run until May 14, 2017.