The gold came from a journey. After travelling to Russia in 2013 to study the Byzantine icon tradition, he began setting his sitters against gilded grounds, so the paintings feel both modern and centuries old. He works in oil and gold leaf, often on aluminium.

Born in Milan in 1966, Grassi was selected to exhibit at the opening of the Italian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in 2011, and has held solo exhibitions in Milan, New York, Rome, Los Angeles, London and Perth.

He lives and works in Switzerland.