Introducing... Alexandros Vasmoulakis and his pop-culture newspaper collage

About a week ago Alexandros Vasmoulakis (or Vasmou as he likes to be known) sent us these incredible collaged portraits created entirely from scraps of newspaper. The torn abstract shapes are carefully composited to make wonderfully striking images that suggest the visual style of regency portraiture but with pop culture and historical subjects (Cameron Diaz and Abe Lincoln anyone?). We were immediately enthralled and went straight to his website to find out more where we discovered an enormous amount of work from a man equally capable of covering a 100ft wall with paint and tiles, erecting witty 3D tableaus from household objects and composing beautifully considered works on paper. So impressed were we by the work on display that we had to interview Alex and find out more about his work, his studio and his feline obsession…

Where do you work?

I alternate between Athens and London. My London studio’s wonderfully cosy, and I’m currently there preparing my next solo show – scheduled for March 2013 in LA at the Le Bass Projects gallery.

How does your working day start?

Ι check my emails first thing in the morning and then I do some kick-ups, it works as a nice warm-up before hitting the canvas.To be honest, when I get stuck, or miserable, I keep on doing kick-ups all day and avoid looking at the works at all.

How do you work and how has that changed?

I can now work simultaneously on various projects, this happened through the years though, I couldn’t do so in the past. It’s much better now – I feel like a DJ.

My current work is divided between outdoor murals, installations and the studio work, which is mostly figurative oil painting and collage. Sharing my time between three different fields is a sort of trick to avoid boredom. And it works!

Where would we find you when you’re not at work?

In the garden, flirting with the neighbour’s cat.

Would you intern for yourself?

Probably not!