iena Cruz

FEDERICO MASSA a.k.a. IENA CRUZ

Brooklyn Based Mural Artist

Federico “Iena Cruz” Massa was born in Milan, Italy in 1981. In 2006, he graduated with a degree in Set Design from The Academy of Fine Arts, Brera. 

A passion for graffiti was first evident in childhood, as he had a tendency to scribble his name all over the walls of his Milan apartment. A habit that, while not pleasing to his mother, set the stage for his life’s vocation in art.

Inspired by California skateboard culture and brands like Santa Cruz, in the 1990s Massa took to the streets with the alias “Cruz.” Tagging all over the streets of Milan, he grew to love the rebellious spirit of the graffiti world, especially the adrenaline rushes of painting on moving trains. Moving away from the graffiti style and into Street Art, he began using the symbol of a hyena (Iena). He related to its ability to appear laughing, no matter the circumstances. The alias “Cruz” more frequently became “Iena Cruz”.

In 2002, Massa’s artistic career began to progress through his collaboration with “the bag art factory,” a collective of painters, sculptors and set designers. This was an eight-year project that provided him a solid place in the Milan art scene and the opportunity to explore working with mixed materials. His desire to understand better the international art world, specifically the street art scene, combined with a love of big cities, informed his move to New York City in 2010. He currently resides in Brooklyn.

He is now a globally recognized muralist, contemporary artist and set designer. In the streets of Brooklyn’s rapidly changing Bushwick and Williamsburg neighborhoods, the public can see many of the large scale, colorful, technically layered murals that Massa is known for internationally. Animals are often featured 

and represent his strong beliefs in conservation. A Latin aesthetic inspires many works, evolving from an interest in the culture, food and art of Mexico. He credits his first Brooklyn roommates with this development, a group of highly accomplished Mexican artists and filmmakers who gave him a place in their transplanted New York community.

He has participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions, distinguished projects and brand collaborations. In 2011, along with esteemed designers from Ferrari and Swarovski, he was selected to create a custom elephant installation for Elephant Parade Milan, a global arts exhibition to benefit the Asian Elephant Foundation. The elephants were later auctioned by Christie’s auction house. Other large-scale works have included the annual Bloop festival in Ibiza, Spain, in 2013 and the 2015 Audubon Mural Project, which garnered front-page notice in The New York Times. Notable among his brand collaborations was his commission to custom design 60 limited edition, handbags for luxury label Marc Jacobs for Paris Fashion Week. The bags quickly sold out at Paris’ historic Printemps department store.

In 2016 Massa created a large canvas for a group show he proposed to the Rockaway Artist Alliance, at the National Gateway Park, Fort Tilden, New York. The exhibition is in collaboration with MoMA PS1 and is part of an official celebration for the United States government’s National Parks Service centennial birthday. 

Massa’s art, both the murals and canvas works, fuses his skills as a large-scale painter and set designer, and evinces his love of nature, bold colors and decorative motifs. He plans to continue experimenting with these themes and techniques in evermore-complex artistic and commercial applications.

C.V.

AWARDS


Green Point Heart, Iena  Cruz Streets Award’ winning artist, for Green Point Heart 2020, presented by Green Point Innovation. As an official feature of Climate week NYC 2020 and the SDG Action Zone during the UN General Assembly.New York City’s first carbon neutral street art, painted entirely with eating pollution paint, and has little to no environmental footprint. The Mural illustrates the past, present, and future of NYC’s Newtown Creek, and want to highlight the link that waterways have with industrialization, climate change, environmental justice, and the health and well-being of our communities. Hunters Point Campus,  directly across the East River from the United Nation Long Island City, NYC

Gradient Force,  Iena  Cruz Grant’ winning artist, for the Grant “ Distruzione” , presented by Arthur. Large scale air purifying mural on middle school Madonna dell’ Olmo, Italy

Off Site Art, 2017, Federico Massa was selected by a committee of curators such as Ian Alteveer, Associate Curator in The Met's Department of Modern and Contemporary Art, for the Public art project Off Site Art, with the topic name “Change”.
L’Aquila is a small town in the region of Abruzzo, that has been destroyed by an earthquake in 2009. Off site Art Helps to beautify the town working with international awarded artists.
The awarded design of Federico, entitled “Camouflage” was printed on PVC (20Feet by 30feet) and installed on a scaffolding covering the historical Theater under reconstruction in the city’s historical center
Forbidden Fruit, 2016. Federico Massa was selected by Rock Away artist Alliance , to realize a 7x 11 ft canvas for a group show at Rock Away Artist Alliance Gallery  in partnership with Moma PS1, Fort Tilden , Ny

Heineken, (theheinekencompany.com), “Star Bottle” competition, Brooklyn, NY, 2013. Federico Massa was selected as an emerging New York artist by HEINEKEN to create a large-scale installation inside of a large industrial shipping container for the “Star Bottle” launch at the “Arrive Big” event at The Duggal Greenhouse in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, NY.

TrasporTiamo (trasportiamo.eu), “Young Artists for Road Safety” program, 2012. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa was selected by the TransporTiamo executive committee to execute a unique painted exterior on one of 30 tractor-trailer trucks that were painted and then driven around Italy as part of a visual arts safety program aimed at Italian drivers.

Elephant Parade Award (elephantparade.com), 2011. Federico Massa was selected from a group of artists, including designers from Ferrari and Swarovski Crystal, to custom paint one of 80 elephant sculptures that were displayed and auctioned off by the prestigious Christie’s auction house as part of the internationally prestigious art charity project that benefits the Asian Elephant Foundation. This colorful work was included in the Christie’s auction catalogue.

ArteIngenua Award Brescia, Brescia, Italy, 2008. Federico Massa was selected from a pool of emerging Italian artists to exhibit two works in the Premio Arteingenua exhibit at the Chair and the Maiden Gallery, New York, NY, that garnered much editorial coverage in the art world.
Character Station (characterstation.com), Geneva, Switzerland, 2009.  Federico Massa was invited to Switzerland by the famous toy company to paint and customize the popular “Zee” character toy as part of a 50-artist competition. Federico Massa was awarded the Grand Concours award, and the Massa-designed toy has been sold in the global market ever since.

Italian Factory (italianfactory.net), Milan, Italy, 2008. Well-known Milan art critic and independent curator Chiara Canali selected Massa to create an installation at the Italian Factory Awards, an annual art world competition, a coveted commission for the highly publicized and important art world event.


Public Art /

Large scale walls and neighborhood renewal project areas

2021
-Gradient Force,  Iena  Cruz Grant’ winning artist, for the Grant “ Distruzione” , presented by Arthur. Large scale air purifying mural on middle school Madonna dell’ Olmo, Italy
2020
-Hight Tide,  Iena  Cruz Streets Award’ winning artist, for Green Point Heart 2020, presented by Green Point Innovation. As an official feature of Climate week NYC 2020 and the SDG Action Zone during the UN General Assembly. New York City’s first carbon neutral street art, painted entirely with eating pollution paint, and has little to no environmental footprint. The mural illustrates the past, present, and future of NYC’s Newtown Creek, and want to highlight the link that waterways have with industrialization, climate change, environmental justice, and the health and well-being of our communities. Hunters Point Campus,  directly across the East River from the United Nation Long Island City, NYC

2019
-Anthropoceano, Federico Massa has been commissioned by Worldrise Onlus, and Ocean Family Foundation to create and realize a large scale artwork highlighting the problem of  Plastic  Pollution in the ocean.The work, by Milanese street artist Federico Massa (aka Iena Cruz), is composed entirely of anti-pollution paint Airlite. It stretches over 230 square-meters of a six stories building in the Lambrate district of Milan Italy.

2018
- Hunting Pollution, Federico Massa has been commissioned from no profit Yourban 2030 to create and realize a large scale artwork, now considered the Europe’s largest Eco-friendly Mural. The work, by Milanese street artist Federico Massa (aka Iena Cruz), is composed entirely of anti-pollution paint Airlite. It stretches over 1000 square-meters of a seven-story building in the Ostiense district in Rome and took the artist 21 days to complete.
2017
El Tiburon, Federico Massa has been commissioned to create and realize a large scale wall 200 by 30 Ft entitled “El Tiburon”
The Power of Mother Nature, West Palm Beach, FL. Federico Massa has been commissioned to create and realize a large scale wall 150 by 30 Ft entitled
2016
- Audubon Mural Project,  Federico Artist selected to realize a six stories Building , using one of the endangers Bird spices, Federico Decided to represent a Three Colored Heron , Harlem, Ny


Critical Role for Company/Projects of high caliber and distinguished reputation

District Flat , Murals commission 1% for the Art. New residential District West Palm Beach Florida. 2021
Cobble Hill Cinema, exterior mural commission for Cobble Hill Cinemas in Brooklyn, NY, 2013. Federico Massa reproduced specific designs and styles which referenced the cinema industry. Size of the wall  50x 40 ft.
Marc Jacobs(marcjacobs.com), Paris, France, 2011. Federico Massa was commissioned by global fashion designer Marc Jacobs to customize and hand paint sixty (60) limited-edition leather handbags in his street art style that were sold by the famous Printemps department store during fashion week.
Heineken, (theheinekencompany.com), “Star Bottle” competition, Brooklyn, NY, 2013. Federico Massa was selected as an emerging New York artist by HEINEKEN to create a large-scale installation inside of a large industrial shipping container for the “Star Bottle” launch at the “Arrive Big” event at The Duggal Greenhouse in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Brooklyn, NY.
    
Art Basel/Miami Beach, Miami Beach, FL, 2013. Federico Massa was selected by Centre-Fuge Public Art Project to create a design for a large-scale painting in the neighborhood of Little Havana as part of the Art Basel program
Iena Cruz x Martin’s Miller Gin Federico is been commissioned to create and realize an art wall, for Martin’s Miller Gin, out side of the popular subway station of Bedford in Williamsburg, NY
Bloop Festival, Ibiza, Spain, 2013 (bloop-festival.com). Federico Massa was invited by the Bloop Festival committee to realize a site-specific large-scale mural on the wall of the Purple Hostel during the 2013 festival that garnered great reviews.
TrasporTiamo (trasportiamo.eu), “Young Artists for Road Safety” program, 2012. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa was selected by the TransporTiamo executive committee to execute a unique painted exterior on one of 30 tractor-trailer trucks that were painted and then driven around Italy as part of a visual arts safety program aimed at Italian drivers.
Centre-fuge public art project, New York, NY in collaboration with the New Museum “Ideas City” Festival (newmuseum.org), “Cycle 8: Influx in Flux exhibit, part of a neighborhood youth program sponsored by the museum that encourages children to assist artists in collaborations. Federico Massa painted a large construction trailer exterior during the 8th cycle of the 12-cycle event stationed on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.
Proyecto La Linea, Cholula, Mexico, 2012. Federico Massa was invited to paint a large-scale mural as part of an urban renewal project in the neighborhood of San Pedro.


Exhibitions


Solo Exhibition


2017
Tokyo International Art Fair, With L’Entrpot gallery of Montecarlo, solo show/ exhibition. 4 canvas  included in the series
“Rip Tide Torn Future” and 5 screen printed artwork, at Tokyo International art Fair.
Bold, L’Entrepot Gallery, Montecarlo. 10 canvas canvas included in the series “Rip Tide Torn Future”.
2014
Cheap Shot, Low Brow Artique Gallery, Brooklyn NY. Solo show/ exhibition, 15 canvases plus an exterior wall mural.

2013
Out of the screen, Williamsburg Cinemas, Brooklyn, NY. Federico Massa Solo exhibition: outdoor huge scale mural, production of 13 canvas included in the series Homage, Face, Piombo and two Bustin Boards longboards.
Retrospektive, Circle art and lounge space, Milan, Italy. Federico Massa Solo exhibition: production of 8 canvas included in the series Homage and Face.
2012
Omaggio a Cattelan, Laundry art space, Milan Italy. Federico Massa Solo exhibition: production of 12 handmade posters, included in the series Homage to Catteland.
Visioni, El Brelin, Milan, Italy. Federico Massa Solo exhibition of 10 canvas from his Face and Homage series.
2011
Copy that. Graphite Gallery, Brooklyn NY – Federico Massa Solo exhibition: special production of 15 canvases included in the series Homage. Interview I-Italy, realization of 2 videos.

Group Show

2018
NYCxDESIGN
In concomitance with NYCxDesign, Artist selected to show at Oosten, a luxury condo designed by Dutch architect Piet Boon in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
In concomitance with NYCxDesign
2016
Forbidden Fruit, Street art at the National Park, group show at Rockaway Artiste Alliance, Rockaway,Ny in partnership with Moma PS1, Fort Tilden , Ny
Art Street, 13 windows 1 wall, window installation at Kimmel Gallery,NYU, Manhattan, Ny
FAAM, Fine Art Aucton Miami, FL,
New York New York, group show at 212 Gallery, Manhattan, NY

2015
FAAM, Fine Art Aucton Miami, FL,
Art Basel/ Miami Beach, Miami Beach, FL, 2013. Federico Massa has been selected by Centre-fuge Public Art Project, to paint a wall at Little Havana.

2013
“Sabor 2”, Leonard Codex, Brooklyn, NY, a satellite show in conjunction Bushwick Open Studios, during the annual event Bushwick open studio, NY. Leonard Codex Art, open its door. Federico Massa was artist and curator of the exhibition, in collaboration with Leonard Codex. Exhibition of over 20 different artists from the US, Italy, Mexico, Argentina working in media ranging from painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, video, and lithography.
Bustin Boards, Skate Rat Gallery, during the annual event Bushwick Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY. Federico Massa has been selected as artist and he exhibited 2 hands made paint Bustin Boards longboards.
Where is the Love? Circle art and lounge space, Milan, Italy. Collective exhibition. Federico Massa exhibited 2 canvas included in the series Homage.

2012
Sabor, Leonard Codex Art, Brooklyn, NY, a satellite show in conjunction Bushwick Open Studios, during the annual event Bushwick open studio, NY. Leonard Codex Art, open its door. Federico Massa was artist and curator of the exhibition, in collaboration with Leonard Codex.
The small word, Family Business, Maurizio Cattelan’s Gallery, NY.
Isha a Tell of Tale, a production of the Bogart Salon, Brooklyn, NY. Federico Massa showed all the works he realized for this Bollywood movie in Buschwick: 1 canvas portrait of the actress, special print of 4 bill board graphics, special production of 2 canvas in collaboration with the Photographer Stefano Ortega. The project has been screen at the south Asian Women’s Creative Collective’s 15th Annual Exhibition at Queens Museum of art.
Archivio Biokip, Spazio Dante, Milan, Italy. Federico Massa has been selected as a historical artist of the Biokip team and he exhibited 2 canvas from his archive.
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2011
Elephant Parade International Art Charity Project. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa is one of the selected artists. Works are been auctioned by Sotheby’s.
Melange. L’Entrepote Gallery. Principality of Monaco. Federico Massa has been selected for a show and he exhibited 2 canvas.
“Cre8 studio”, during the annual event Bushwick open studio, NY. Federico Massa exhibited 5 canvas of his production.
Rediviva. Palazzo Altieri. Rivello, Italy. Federico Massa has been selected as artist and he exhibited 2 canvas from the series Homage, then published on the catalogue of the exhibition.
2010
Energy of a generation, Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. Praia a Mare, Italy. Federico Massa has been selected as artist showing 4 canvas from the series Homage and realizing an installation. His works are published on the catalogue of the exhibition.
Nothing to lose. Assab One Gallery, Milan, Italy. Federico has been selected as Biokip artist, he realized an installation and exhibited a canvas.
Lumen arte contemporanea in controluce. Monumental Santa Sofia. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa has been selected as artist and he exhibited a lamp realized in collaboration with A3Design from him design.
Giudizio universale The Bag Art Factory. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa is one of the curator and selected artist showing 2 canvas and realizing an installation.
La bestia umana. Famiglia Margini’s Gallery. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa has been selected as artist realizing an installation.
Spazio Tindaci Realization of an installation in collaboration with Fabio Roncato for him Solo Exhibition at Spazio Tindaci. Padova, Italy.
2009
Social Circus. Famiglia Margini’s Gallery. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa has been selected as artist realizing an installation.
The Walls after Berlin, Promenade Gallery. Albania. Federico Massa selected artist he exhibited 1 canvas.
The Walls after Berlin, Koine Gallery. Sicily, Italy. Federico Massa selected artist with he exhibited 1 canvas.
The Walls after Berlin, Spazio Tadini Gallery. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa selected artist he exhibited 1 canvas.
StreetArt.it, L’Entrepote Gallery, Principality of Monaco. Federico Massa has been one of the three selected artists. He exhibited 15 canvas, from the series Homage, he made a session of live painting, he received publications on L’Observatour de Montecarlo n.82 and Nice Matin.
Streets Without Wall, Art Charity Project. Florence, Italy, April. Curator by Chiara Canali. Federico Massa has been selected artist he exhibited 2 canvas, from the series Homage. Also he has participated with a live painting and has been interview at the press conference during MIART Milan.
26 for Tibet, Art Charity Project at Tsetan Sonam Carpets centre. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa with The Bag Art Factory has been curator of the event and he exhibited 2 canvas from the series Homage.
Public Design Festival, Project Open-air in Navigli area. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa has been selected artist from Biokip Gallery to create an installation. Publicdesignfestival.org.
Accademia Contemporanea Gallery. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa has been a selected artist by curator Prof. Del Guercio exhibiting 3 canvas from the series Homage
Digital is Human, Science and Technology Museum. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa has been selected artist. He has participated in live painting and has been interview at the press conference. .
1000 Artisti a Palazzo, Art- show. Italy. Federico Massa selected artist, he exhibited 1 canvas.
Posteraiz 4 Peace, bi-personal Art show. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa has been one of two artist selected exhibiting 4 canvas from the series Homage.
Rojo ocho, international project at the Rojo Gallery. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa has been one of two artist selected exhibiting 1 canvas from the series Homage.
Zee serie 0, Exarte Gallery. Genève, Switzerland. Federico Massa one of nine winners of the Concourse Zee Design.


2008
Original Toys, Arte Due Gallery. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa has been selected exhibiting 6 canvas from the series Face and 2 lamps realized from his design in collaboration with A3Design. His works are published on the catalogue of the exhibition.
Italian Factory, La fabbrica del vapore. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa, selected artist and winner of the Award for the Young Italian Painting with him installation, then published in the catalogue Italian factory.
La Bontà, Biokip Gallery. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa has been selected as artist exhibiting 3 canvas and realizing an installation.
Street Art Urban Art at Chair and the Maiden Gallery, New York. Federico Massa has been selected artist as winner of the Italian Award Arte Ingenua with 2 canvas, from the series City.
Audiovisual Festival with Biokip Gallery organized by Esterni. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa has been selected as artist exhibiting 2 canvas and realizing an installation.
Sold out. Exhibition in a leave supermarket support by Milan district and Limbiate Municipality. Milan, Italy. Curator by Chiara Canali. Federico Massa has been one of the selected artists exhibiting 1 canvas and graphic designer for flayers, cover book, merchandise.  His works are published in the catalogue Sold Out.
Grand Concours Zee, Casa A Chok.  Nauchatel, Switzerland. Federico Massa won the concourse that involves the reproduction and distribution of him toys at world range.
Ombre, Biokip Gallery. Milan, Italy, April. Federico Massa has been
selected artist, he exhibited 3 canvas, from the series Faces.

2007
C- prayer festival, Base-B Triennale Bovisa. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa has been selected exhibiting 2 canvas from the series Mix and realizing an installation.
Centre Cultural de la Providence. Nice, France. Federico Massa selected artist of 4 from the collective The Bag Art Factory to realize a live painting.
Love & the City. Juan Les Pins, France. Federico Massa selected artist with The Bag Art Factory to realize a live painting.
Open source, The Bag Art Factory, supported by Milan District, Milan, Italy.  Federico Massa artist and curator realized an installation, exhibited 4 canvas from the series Mix, and received 4 page publication in the catalogue The Bag.
L’invidia, Biokip Gallery.  Milan, Italy. Federico Massa selected artist exhibiting 1 canvas.
Street Art Sweet Art at PAC -Contemporary Art Pavilion- Milano, Italy. Installation and live performance of Federico Massa with his collective The Bag Art Factory.
SEIA Gallery with The Bag Art Factory. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa selected artist he exhibited 1 canvas and realized a live painting during the opening.
Il sospetto”, Biokip Gallery.  Milan, Italy. Federico Massa selected artist and director and supervisor of the installation.
Trinity Skatepark, decoration of the principal façade during the inauguration, with The Bag Art Factory, in Bovisa area. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa selected artist.
Spazio Tufano.  Milan, Italy. Federico Massa artist and promoter of the live performance with his collective The Bag Art Factory.
2006
Big Marker, Biokip Gallery. Milan, Italy, December. Federico Massa was the author and developer of the collective exhibition.
La Rinascente, decoration of the provisory façade during the inauguration of the famous store La Rinascente in Duomo Place in collaboration with The Bag Art Factory. Milan, Italy.
2005
Morte alle stenografe, The Bag Art Factory. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa artist and curator of the exhibition. He realized an installation, exhibited 4 canvas from the series Mix.
Painting Award Comune di Sarezzo at Villa Usignol, 15° edition. Sarezzo, Italy. Federico Massa selected artist exhibiting 1 canvas from the series Mix.
Bagage, The Bag Art Factory. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa artist and curator of the exhibition.
32° edition Epifania, International Competition Eustacchi Gallery, Milan, Italy. Federico Massa selected artist and winner of the “Special Original Prize”.
L’ex Pelota. Milan, Italy. Federico Massa selected artist, he exhibited 5 canvas.

2004
Bagarre, The Bag Art Factory, Milan, Italy, June. Federico Massa curator and exhibitor of five paintings.

Art Charity

2011
The Elephant Parade, Asian Elephant Foundation, Milan, Italy, Federico Massa is one of the selected artists. Works were  auctioned by Christie’s.
2010
65Mila Euro For Haiti.  June. Federico Massa offers one of his works at the gallery. The work has been sold by Alain Reindeer vice president of Sotheby's France.
2009
-26 For Tibet . Art Charity Project at Tsetan Sonam Carpets center. Milan, Italy, June. Federico Massa with The Bag Art Factory has been curator of the event and he exhibited 2 canvas from the series Homage.
-Streets Without Wall project by Art Charity.  Florence, Italy, April.  Curator by Chiara Canali. Federico Massa selected artist, he exhibited 2 canvas from the series Homage. Also he has participated with a live painting and has been interview at the press conference during MIART Milan.
-Koko Smart,Milan, Italy, September. Federico Massa selected as  one of the 200 artist for  paint one koko’ Smart penguin lamp for the art charity project for Anlaids.

 

Seeking to leverage my passion to use my art for a purpose to tackle climate change through sustainable mind set and method of prooduction