Alo

Bio

ALO (Aristide Loria) is an Italian-born painter who’s called London home since 2011. He paints bold, brush-rendered portraits on walls, canvas, and wood, never using spray paint, and he refuses payment for street pieces. His style, self-dubbed “Urban Expressionism,” fuses brush-heavy gestures, repeating bristle marks, and colourful patterns into haunting faces inspired by overlooked people you might pass every day.

After exploding onto the East London street art scene in 2013, ALO landed his first solo show at Saatchi Gallery in 2014 (“Hail to the Loser”) and has since exhibited widely in Europe, including shows like Exit from Aden, Liminal, and Grace. He also works with galleries like Jealous and BSMT, while galleries and auctions feature his canvas work across London, Paris, Berlin, and beyond.

ALO doesn’t see his street work as part of any movement; to him, it’s simply painting made public. He works at night, often without permission, to reclaim walls for beauty and inclusivity. His portraits of women and men, sometimes abstract and always emotive, feel like hidden national gallery gems tucked into doorways, alleys, or vacant lots.

With roots in squats and East London, and influences ranging from Picasso to African artefact patterns, ALO reminds us that street art can be personal, political, poetic, and absolutely free.