ZEVS

Zevs is a contemporary artist who is often associated with the post-graffiti scene. Since the 1990s, he has been known for his various works of art in the streets, notably in cities such as Paris, Berlin, New York, Seoul and Hong Kong. From city sidewalks to gallery walls, Zevs reacts to urban signs and consumer codes, questioning public space, art, and the relationship between art and consumerism.

For Zevs, it is not just the writing of the inscription that matters, but also the context and the location (spatial, urban, mental) that make the work significant.

While he shares a common approach to inscription, hijacking, brands, and situations with other artists, Zevs distinguishes himself by incorporating elements borrowed from classical artists such as David Hockney.

He suggests that today’s logos are the successors of the great patrons of the past. Zevs is also inspired by the hidden and stylized “autographs” of artists like Albrecht Dürer and Leonardo da Vinci.

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Aghirre Schwarz, born on November 17, 1977, in Saverne, is the son of Robert and Nadia Schwarz, both painters, and the grandson of Marcel Schwarz, a theater decorator.

Early Career and Pseudonym
Zevs began as a graffiti artist in Paris in the 90s, using various pseudonyms such as The Shadow Flasher and The Serial Ad Killer. His pseudonym «Zevs» - pronounced «Zeus» - refers to a train that almost ran him over while he was tagging in 1992.

Early Works and Installations
In 1997, Zevs created his «electric shadows» using reflective industrial paint, documented in Banksy’s film «Exit Through the Gift Shop.» In 1998, he made his first sound installation by calling Parisian art galleries and asking, «How does one become an artist?»

2000s: Visual Attacks/Kidnapping and Liquidated Logos
Starting in 2001, he executed his «Visual Attacks» by spraying red paint on advertising billboards. In 2002, he kidnapped a Lavazza poster in Berlin, released in 2005 with a ransom at the Palais de Tokyo. This work marked the beginning of his «Liquidated Logos» series, where he «liquidates» logos in public spaces and then on traditional media.

Interventions and Proper Graffiti
ZEVS is also known for his «Proper Graffiti,» created with a power washer on dirty walls. In 2003, he burned famous portraits with a powerful flash and in 2006 used luminescent pigment for graffiti visible only under black light.

Reflections on Original and Copy
In 2007, with his Mona Lisa and handbag, he questioned authenticity and reproduction. He also created a «rainbow brush» to quickly paint on Parisian bus shelter advertisements.

Exhibitions and Performances
In 2008, he held his first solo museum exhibition: «Electroshock» in Copenhagen. In 2009, he made his first public appearance during a trial in Hong Kong. In 2012, he revisited classical painting in a series called «Old Masters.»

Recent Works
In 2014, his first monograph «Zevs: The Execution of an Image» was published. In 2016, he exhibited at the Château de Vincennes with «Noir Éclair». In 2018, he created «Eiffel Phoenix» on the Eiffel Tower for Nuit Blanche. In 2019, he exhibited at MAMO with «Oïkos Logos». In 2020, he presented «The Last Cowboy is Dead» in Copenhagen and in 2021 created a funeral chamber for the Last Malboro Cowboy in Mallorca. In 2023, he exhibited at the Louvre and the National Museum of Korea.