Casanova
_________
Casanova is a self-taught artist and graphic designer from Beirut, Lebanon, known for his distinctive smiley face motif, signature noir style with dripping eyes, and bold pieces with black-and-white contrasts. His art features a mix of expression, characterized by graphic violence, nudity, profanity, slang, cartoons, interesting dialogue and references to popular culture.
Casanova's Origin Story
_________
Growing up young Casanova was deeply influenced by cinema, cartoons, anime, video games, and character culture. Many of his pieces vividly reflect this, drawing inspiration from the cartoonish figures of his youth to create imaginative worlds filled with playful, nostalgic characters. From childhood favorites like Dragon Ball, Batman, and the Super Mario Bros., Casanova’s art is a celebration of the colorful, dynamic universe of pop culture. His work taps into the power of childhood memories, inviting viewers—both young and old—into a joyful space where the past comes alive in bold, energetic forms. From an early age, Casanova nurtured his natural talent for sketching and painting, playing around with various mediums and techniques. Deeply influenced by mass culture, he often explores themes of identity, weaving in elements of personal slang, movies, and cartoons to challenge perspectives and ignite conversation. Whether crafting large-scale portraits or intricate mixed-media works, Casanova’s art leaves a lasting impact on all who experience it.
Cartoons & Culture
_________
Casanova’s deep influence from cartoons, anime, video games, and character culture has shaped a clear and dynamic direction for his work. Drawing inspiration from childhood favorites like Batman, Dragon Ball, Pokémon, and Super Mario Bros., he reimagines these iconic worlds through a lens of playful nostalgia.
Early Influences & Style
_________
Casanova’s artistic journey began with sketching characters from his favorite comics, animated series, and cartoons. As his style matured, he transitioned into creating striking black-and-white portraits of iconic movie characters—heavily influenced by the gritty, cinematic worlds of Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, and Francis Ford Coppola. Films like Goodfellas, Pulp Fiction, Taxi Driver, and The Godfather left a lasting mark on his visual storytelling and artistic direction.
His exposure to graphic design, fashion, street art, and graffiti during his travels further expanded his creative approach, leading him to experiment with diverse techniques and mixed media. Known for his bold, high-contrast “Noir” aesthetic, Casanova’s work is also deeply rooted in the raw, expressive spirit of his childhood drawings—scribbles, exaggerated forms, and unfiltered imagination—all of which continue to inform his visual language and technique.
Drawing on his background in graphic design, he creatively blends dripping smiles, cinematic quotes, slang, photography, and imagery—merging the worlds of film and visual art into a cohesive, powerful narrative.
Facts
_________
The "Funny how?" scene from Goodfellas—inspired Casanova’s signature motif: the "Smiley Face Signature." This element, often paired with spontaneous splashes and drips, channels raw emotion and unpredictability, becoming a recurring hallmark of his work.
