Blub: The Anonymous Street Artist on Submerged Icons and Digital Anonymity

Blub, an anonymous street artist based in Florence and Tuscany, reflects on his practice in an interview with Artribune. He describes his work as visible urban furniture that aims to envision a better world rather than protest. His signature subjects wear diving masks, symbolizing immersion in water—a metaphor for life, weightlessness, and timelessness. He portrays historical icons who left a lasting positive legacy. Blub uses acrylic paint on aged metal supports, preferring rusty surfaces that carry history, but also works on canvas. He recently donated a piece, 'Sub Angel PeaceMaker,' to an auction in Norway benefiting the Artificial Limbs and Prosthetics Centre (ALPC) in Gaza. In spring 2019, he plans a project in Naples, details undisclosed. He maintains anonymity to protect his privacy and uses social media moderately, only to share new works. The interview was conducted by Alessia Tommasini and published on Artribune in December 2018.