Lafabbricadibraccia

On one side lie the stories of others; on the other, the primal urge to transform them. In between, a productive short circuit sparks vignettes, comic strips, and illustrations that give a face to what is often left unsaid: daily emotions and those tiny, universal cracks in which we all, sooner or later, recognize ourselves.

He signs his work as Lafabbricadibraccia (The Factory of Arms), a name that embodies his creative mission: to build, to multiply, and to give tangible form to human gestures and thoughts.

“To me, illustration means transforming an idea—a series of concepts and words—into a story that is both read and seen. Whether it’s an illustration or a comic strip, that is the core of everything I do.”

His style is direct, essential, and completely unfiltered. It features sharp lines and flat, vibrant colors, heavily influenced by underground black-and-white art. This is not a mere aesthetic preference, but a communicative necessity: stripping away the superfluous to make room for the core content.

He draws simply because it is the most effective way to say exactly what he wants to say. Within this apparent simplicity lies the true strength of his visual voice: immediate and highly readable, yet never conventional.

His is a visual world that doesn’t seek to please, but to resonate.

“I’m obsessed with the everyday—with paying attention to the small things that happen to us constantly. It’s these micro-events that give meaning to the chance fact that we are walking this earth.”

This obsession with the mundane has fueled two books: Polaroid (Tabloid Edizioni, 2023) and Esistere (To Exist). It also led to a seven-year residency at the Florentine magazine Lungarno, starting with an illustrated column before evolving into his own dedicated comic strip.

His characters are Paola, who takes a second slice of cake completely guilt-free; Rita, who accepts she cannot engineer a better past; and a seagull who kicks off a trend for eyebrows shaped like human arms. Each one is an emotional Polaroid—a snapshot of a crack, a joy, or a fleeting reflection caught on the fly.

Alongside his comics, Federico has forged a parallel path in the outdoor sports industry, specifically within the gravel cycling scene. Since 2021, he has spearheaded the illustrated communication for Sterro Appalla and G.Round—two prominent Florentine cycling festivals. His signature style has also powered merchandise collaborations with top-tier brands like Pissei, Vifra, Santini, Briko, and Bergmont, spanning live-drawn helmets, custom bike frames, and technical apparel capsules.