Valeria Palmeiro, known publicly as Coco Dávez, uses acrylic paint on canvas to recreate pop icons that are stripped down to the bare minimum. Her painting series, titled Faceless, begs the question: what is it that makes our icons recognizable? Proving that even when they’re faceless, giants like Elvis and Freddie Mercury can still be recognized thanks to characteristics such as their hairstyle, clothes, and accessories.
“This collection is a tribute to all my idols, characters that have somehow marked me throughout my life,” she told Find and Seek. “Once you have the idea the next step in the process is sketching, then trying different materials and color combinations; I make collages to get an idea of how it will be exposed in a real space,” she explains, talking about the creative process itself. “Once I convince myself it all works then I begin the final piece.”
This is not the first time Dávez has caught our attention. Her delightful creations span various mediums, anything from painting and photography to art direction, adding a pop of color to her surroundings. Collaborating with brands like Chanel, Prada, and Desigual, her personal work has also been exhibited around the world.
You can also follow her progress on Instagram. Here are some highlights from her latest series:
