ESA

Francesco Cellamaro, known as Esa, El Presidente or El Crespo, was born in Reggio Calabria in 1972.

A multifaceted artist, he has established himself both on the Italian music scene as a rapper and in the world of visual art as a graffiti artist and painter.

Musical career

With a career spanning more than 20 years, Esa is considered one of the most influential rappers in Italy. He has been part of historical groups such as OTR (Originale Trasmissione del Ritmo) and Gente Guasta, a duo formed together with rapper Polare.

Working with artists such as Neffa, La Pina, Colle der Fomento and Sottotono, he has contributed to bringing an original and funky style to Italian rap, releasing over ten albums and participating in international projects. 

Career in visual art

Parallel to music, Esa has developed a solid career in the world of visual art.

For over thirty years, under the pseudonym El Crespo, he worked in the graffiti art scene both in Europe and New York. In recent years, he started exhibiting drawings on paper, collages and canvases, culminating in his first solo exhibition ‘Tributes’ in Milan in 2020, sponsored by Streetartinstore and hosted in a four-star hotel. 

Themes and artistic style

Esa's works reflect his deep connection to music. His subjects include hip-hop legends such as Jay-Z, Slick Rick and Mos Def, as well as black music icons such as Donna Summer and Michael Jackson.

His imaginative art brings to life mythological characters of his own invention, maintaining a distinctive style that fuses musical and visual elements.

Recent exhibitions and collaborations

In 2022, Esa participated in the exhibition ‘Characters’ together with Masito, held in Rome at the Wunderkammern gallery.

The exhibition showcased his ability to create unique characters, highlighting his versatility both as a musician and as a visual artist. 

Esa continues to be a central figure in Italian urban culture, masterfully integrating music and visual art.

His ability to cross and merge different artistic disciplines makes him a complete and innovative artist, with a continuously evolving career.

ESA: Works for sale with prices and value from Wunderkammern

If you are interested in the artist, you can find ESA's works for sale online at our website.

If you would like to know about ESA's prices, value or which works will be exhibited, please do not hesitate to contact us by sending an e-mail to shop@wunderkammern.net.