assume vivid astro focus

assume vivid astro focus, often abbreviated as AVAF, is a dynamic and shape-shifting artistic project founded in New York City in 2001 by Eli Sudbrack, who lives and works between São Paulo and New York. From its inception, AVAF has embraced a fluid approach to authorship, sometimes operating as a solo practice, other times as a broader collaborative network, adapting to the needs of each project.

Working across a wide range of media—including immersive installations, painting, neon, wallpaper, video, performance, sculpture, and tapestry—AVAF creates vibrant, sensorial environments where color and pattern are not merely decorative but act as a visual language. These works blur the boundaries between artist and audience, transforming spaces into total experiences in which the viewer becomes part of the artwork.

AVAF’s visual landscapes merge pop imagery, political commentary, and references to gender and identity with exuberance and playfulness. Patterns, cultural symbols, and found imagery are reimagined into layered compositions that are both celebratory and thought-provoking. Recognized internationally, AVAF’s practice continues to evolve, engaging audiences around the world and redefining the possibilities of immersive art.

Selected Exhibitions

2024 – assume vivid astro focus – XI, The Bass Museum of Art, Miami
2024 – Solo presentation, Art Dubai, Dubai
2023 – avaf: alterações vividas absolutamente fantasiosas (retrospective), SESC SP

2022 – Bona to Vada Your Dolly Bold Eek, LAMB Gallery, London
2021 – Hairy What? Hairy How?, Tibor de Nagy Gallery, New York
2021–2022 – Thailand Biennale, Korat

Collections

– Centre Pompidou, Paris
– Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York
– Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach
– Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami
– Goetz Collection, Munich
– DESTE Foundation for Contemporary Art, Athens
– Museum of Contemporary Art, Rome
– National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design, Oslo
– Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP), São Paulo
– Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo (MAMSP), São Paulo