Peeta
The italian graffiti artist Peeta (alias Manuel Di Rita) took up the spraycan in a small town between Venice and Padua in 1993 first. 16 years later, it is impossible to think about the international graffiti subculture without thinking about Peeta’s works.
The style of this artist is sensational and doubtless attracts public attention: He started with painting organic forms. Then he developed his very impressive, characteristic typographic style with its unique 3D-Technique and formidable visual depth. First he was only active as a sprayer, now Peeta produces also sculptures and canvases. These different media don't exclude each other, they cause mutual inspiration. He gets new ideas for his wall paintings while working on the sculptures. Vice versa, he is inspired by 3D graffiti for the implementation of these furious forms in sculpture. The pieces - looking tremendous and dynamical on walls - appear intimate but not less energetic on the screen. Peeta shows his skills and practical experience in each of these different fields.
His graffiti are perfectly shaped so that they look absolutely credibly sculptural. Because of it a synesthetic haptic desire is awaken by the viewer. In both his sculptures and his pieces sharp and spiky crusts meet smooth curves. These contrasts unite to build harmonious completed works. Peeta’s plays on shapes remind on the sculptural oeuvre of Tony Cragg.
Soon Peetas pieces are ripe to be shown in the Mecca of graffiti art – in New York. In 2000 he became a member of the New Yorker FX crew and some times later a member of the RWK crew. Also in his homeland he was taken in by the EAD crew in also in 2000. Together with the other famous streetartists Peeta works on various projects all over the world.
Manuel Di Rita is not only active as a streetartist, but also as industrial and product designer. Therefore, one additional important impulse can be detected in Peeta's sculptural works. The sculptures are produced by industrial methods also according to the choice of material: polyurethan meets acetat, wood meets cardboard, paper meets leather. The combination of graffiti and design distinguishes Peeta and causes his permanent development as an artist.
Peeta in Pretty Portal Online Shop
Available works by Peeta
Exhibitions by Peeta
"Sparkle and Fade"
30.10. - 27.11.09
Pictures of the Exhibition
