Maupal on Street Art's Post-Pandemic Evolution

Mauro Pallotta, known as Maupal, is a Roman street artist born in 1972 who studied at the Accademia delle Belle Arti in Rome. He gained international recognition in 2014 with his first street work, Super Pope, depicting Pope Francis as Superman, placed near the Vatican. This work transformed his career, leading him to embrace street art as the most contemporary artistic genre. Maupal has since created street works featuring Pope Francis, Queen Elizabeth, and Donald Trump, and was ranked 21st among the world's 30 most influential street artists by ARTNET. He exhibits globally in London, Rome, and Miami, and works across fine art and street art. In an interview with Alessia Tommasini for Artribune, Maupal discusses his techniques: he paints exclusively freehand with acrylics and brushes, avoiding stencils and projections. He selects walls based on their relevance to the subject and concept, emphasizing communication over aesthetics. Regarding the pandemic's impact, Maupal predicts a shift in street art: audiences will demand higher quality, and the quantity of works will decrease. He believes the introspective period of quarantine will change how people perceive art, making previously striking works less impactful. Maupal defines his practice as both muralism (commissioned urban works) and urban art (illegal raids). His research parallels his personal growth, focusing on the present rather than the future.