GALASASCHA

GALASASCHA is the artistic name of the duo formed by Galina Brando and Alexander Abramov, who have worked together since 1985. Based in Berlin, the two artists have developed a collaborative practice shaped by the dialogue between their individual perspectives, shared cultural references and fascination with contemporary imagery.

They are particularly known for The Face, an ongoing series centered on female portraiture. Photographic faces are transformed through vivid blocks of color, geometric forms and graphic interventions that fragment and reconstruct the image. While the features remain recognizable, the use of color disrupts traditional portraiture and gives each figure an almost unreal visual presence.

GALASASCHA’s work therefore exists at the intersection of photography, painting and Pop Art. Intense reds, yellows, blues, greens and pinks move across the surface of the face like contemporary visual filters. This saturated palette gives the works a powerful graphic quality and transforms portraiture into a field of experimentation.

Behind their immediate visual appeal, the portraits also explore the construction of image and identity. Drawing on a world saturated with photography, advertising, fashion and media imagery, the duo questions how faces are presented, transformed and consumed within contemporary visual culture. Their own description of The Face refers to a visual mixture shaped by contemporary media, art history and the artists’ private sphere.

The fragmentation of the portraits creates a tension between individual identity and universal image. Each sitter retains a distinctive presence through their gaze and expression, yet simultaneously becomes the surface for an almost abstract composition. The face is no longer simply represented: it becomes a space where color, memory and popular culture converge. The The Face series has evolved over many years, with portraits including Ingrid, Wai, Makiko, Sylvia, Miharu and Ayane, demonstrating the continuity of GALASASCHA’s exploration into the early 2020s.

Through this collaborative practice, GALASASCHA reimagines contemporary portraiture by transforming the face into a space of visual experimentation, where photography meets color, abstraction and Pop culture.

Discover GALASASCHA’s artworks available at Galerie De Medicis, Place des Vosges in Paris, and explore their colorful universe through contemporary portraits combining photography, Pop Art, abstraction and vibrant color.