Classical Meets Graffiti: The Art of PichiAvo

From the streets of Valencia to walls across the world. PichiAvo have developed a distinctive artistic language. Their work blends classical mythology with the raw energy of graffiti. Ancient gods and heroic statues appear through layers of tags, colour and expressive lettering.

Pichi and Avo

PichiAvo is the artistic partnership of Juan Antonio (Pichi, b.1977) and Álvaro (Avo, b.1985). They have become one of the most recognisable duos within contemporary urban art. Their work acts as a meeting point of classical heritage and modern street culture. Marble-like sculptures of mythological figures emerge from vibrant graffiti backgrounds. The contrast between these worlds gives their work an unmistakable identity.

From Valencia’s Streets

Both Pichi and Avo studied Fine Arts and Design with their paths first crossing within Valencia’s graffiti scene. In 2007 they formed the PichiAvo partnership. From that point they began their search for a shared visual language.

Fusion

The early years focused heavily on technique. Experimenting with different styles and approaches. Over time their work moved towards a powerful fusion of graffiti and classical imagery. This balance now defines much of their work. Traditional sculpture and mythology sitting alongside the spontaneity of street art.

International Recognition

A major step came in 2015. Painting their first large-scale mural at the North West Walls Festival in Belgium. The invitation had come from Belgian artist Arne Quinze and helped to launch the first of many international works. Soon their work began appearing in some of the world’s most famous urban art locations. Painting at Wynwood Walls in Miami (2015) and the Hard Rock Stadium (2016). Then in 2017 creating a piece on the famous Houston Bowery Wall in New York. The first European artists invited to paint the historic site.

Landmark Projects

Back in Valencia, 2019 brought another landmark project. The duo creating a monumental 26-metre sculpture for the city’s famous Fallas Festival. That same year collaborating with Portuguese artist Vhils. Together creating one of the largest murals in the world in Porto.

Our Odyssey

Today PichiAvo’s work can be found across cities around the world. From Miami and New York to Manchester and Berlin. Each piece a vibrant colliding of cultures. A blend of tags and Gods that it’s hard to look away from.

What makes their work distinctive is that balance between two traditions. The discipline of the classic sitting alongside the spontaneity of street culture. Marble figures emerging through layers of letters and style. It’s a journey captured in ‘Our Odyssey‘, an anthology published in 2024. The book reflects on their artistic evolution and the projects that shaped it. For Pichi and Avo, the conversation between mythology and the street continues to move.

For more Inspiring City articles you will like, take a look at…

• ‘In Gods We Trust’ exhibition in London
• Pichiavo paint giant mural of Athena in Barcelona