assume vivid astro focus was founded by Eli Sudbrack (b. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 1968) in 2001. Sudbrack often works as a duo with Paris-based artist Christophe Hamaide Pierson (b. Paris, 1973) and sometimes also morphs into a collective, depending on the different projects avaf is involved in.

avaf works in a vast array of media, including painting, drawing, installations, video, sculpture, neons, wallpaper, decals, and often confronts gender, politics, and embedded cultural codes through pop imagery and neon colors. avaf brings a passionate collaborative spirit to every aspect of their work—from conceiving projects in tandem, to employing an extensive range of references and materials, to executing large-scale installations with expert, animated, diversely talented teams. avaf approaches every project with a combination of all-encompassing, unbridled vision and keen pragmatism.

avaf operates with a hedonistic spirit, and engages in frequent collaborations with musicians, designers, dancers and other artists, challenging conventional assumptions about authorship and the role of the artist’s persona in society and the contemporary art world with their core beliefs as foundation: “share, generosity, contaminate, be contaminated, devour, be devoured, travel and spread”.

avaf has done collaborations with various notable brands along their 10 years-plus career that have assumed the most different outcomes. Noteworthy partnerships include Lady Gaga and Barneys New York (2012); Comme de Garçons (2011); Nike (2014 and 2017); Citizen M Hotels in London (2012 and 2016) and Paris (2017); Melissa (2011/2012); Pepsi (2008); MAC Cosmetics (2016); Le Sport Sac (2004); Henzel Studio (2014); and The Rug Company (2008).

avaf has also been the subject of major exhibitions and public art projects around the world. These include MATE (Museo Mario Testino), Lima, Peru (2017); The Faena Art Center, Buenos Aires, Argentina (2014) and Miami (2017); Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), Santa Barbara, USA (2016); Sammlung Goetz, Munich, Germany (2016); Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, USA (2015); Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), North Miami, USA (2013); The National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo, Norway (2009); São Paulo Bienal, São Paulo, Brazil (2008); Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York, USA (2008); Museum of Contemporary Art (MOT), Tokyo, Japan (2007); 1st Athens Biennale, Athens, Greece (2007); The Geffen Contemporary (MoCA), Los Angeles, USA (2005); The Whitney Biennial, New York, USA (2004); among others.