Sten (Rome, 1982) and Lex (Taranto, 1982) are two of the most renowned and internationally recognized Italian street artists. The duo was formed in 2001 in Rome, where they began working with stencil techniques, becoming pioneers of the medium in Italy.
From the outset, their work has stood out for its focus on technical experimentation and the relationship between artwork, architecture, and urban space. In their early years, their interventions depicted anonymous faces and B-movie characters painted on the walls of the capital. Over time, however, their artistic research evolved toward a more abstract and conceptual dimension.
Experimentation and Technique
Sten and Lex's artistic journey is marked by constant linguistic innovation. After introducing traditional stencil techniques to Italy, the artists transformed the practice into an original and complex process.
Among their best-known inventions is the "Hole School," a technique that applies the principle of mezzotint to stencil work, allowing the image to shift from abstract to figurative depending on the viewer’s distance.
In 2010, they introduced the "Stencil Poster" technique, a process combining poster art and stencil: large sheets of paper are glued to a building’s surface, the image is carved into them like a stencil, painted over, and finally torn away to reveal the underlying image. In outdoor works, the poster naturally deteriorates over time or through public interaction, making the artwork dynamic and ever-changing.
Their approach is based on the principle of subtraction, where time, weather, and human participation become integral parts of the creative process. The use of black and white, along with grayscale tones, gives their works the appearance of old photographs, evoking memory and the transience of time.
From Abstraction to Figuration
Sten and Lex’s aesthetic merges figuration and abstraction, generating images that shift depending on the viewer’s distance and interaction. Up close, the artworks appear as an interweaving of lines and almost abstract forms; from a distance, the image recomposes, revealing the hidden subject.
The protagonists of their works are often ordinary people—anonymous faces found in old photo albums—who become symbols of collectivity and shared memory.
Their research goes beyond the image itself, encompassing the relationship between artwork and urban space, aiming to create a direct dialogue with the public. Their works are never static; they are meant to be experienced, consumed, and transformed by time and by the people who move through them.
Exhibitions and Recognition
Throughout their careers, Sten and Lex have participated in numerous international festivals and exhibitions, establishing themselves as leading figures in contemporary street art.
In 2008, they were invited by Banksy to take part in the famous Cans Festival in London, a pivotal moment in their international recognition. They have also exhibited in major institutions and museums such as MACRO – Museum of Contemporary Art of Rome, MADRE Museum in Naples, the Gallery of Modern Art of Rome (which dedicated the solo show Sten Lex: Rinascita to them in 2020), and the Centre de la Gravure et de l’Image Imprimée in La Louvière (Belgium).
Notable group shows include Cross the Streets at MACRO, Street Art: Um Panorama Urbano at Caixa Cultural (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasília), and Flesh Flâneur (Bari).
They have also taken part in many urban art festivals such as Nuart Festival (Norway), CityLeaks Festival (Cologne), Katowice Street Art Festival (Poland), Altrove Festival (Catanzaro), Outdoor Festival (Rome), and Living Walls Festival (Atlanta).
With over twenty years of activity, Sten and Lex continue to explore the boundaries between public art and visual experimentation, constantly redefining the language of stencil art and reaffirming their position as central figures in international street art.
Sten Lex: Works for sale with prices and value from Wunderkammern
If you are interested in the artist, you can find Sten Lex’s works for sale online at our website.
If you would like to know about Sten Lex’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
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