Peeta on 3D Lettering, Street Art, and His Upcoming Venice Show
Manuel di Rita, known as Peeta, discusses his evolution from 1990s graffiti to a distinctive 3D style blending painting, industrial design, and sculpture. He cites German graffiti pioneers Daim, Delta (Boris Tallengen), and Loomit as early inspirations for his tridimensional lettering. Peeta defines street art as an evolution of graffiti with simpler, communicative aesthetics, contrasting it with graffiti's coded language. His creative process begins with hand-drawn sketches, then digital modeling of white volumes, adapting to architectural context for murals or expressive choices for canvases. He notes Italy's improving but still challenging environment for street artists due to bureaucratic and fiscal limits, yet values its flexible lifestyle. Peeta's artistic references include Caravaggio, Canova, Zaha Hadid, and Lebbeus Woods. His name derives from a school nickname "Pita," respelled for graphic appeal. He is preparing a solo exhibition opening December 7 at Galleria Bugno in Venice, exploring new forms beyond letters, integrating geometric elements into canvases, sculptures, and murals.
Key facts
- Manuel di Rita (Peeta) was born in 1980 in the province of Venice.
- He debuted in the writing scene in the 1990s.
- His style incorporates painting, industrial design, and sculpture.
- He discovered 3D lettering through the German graffiti scene in the late 1990s.
- He studied sculpture and design to refine his technique.
- His creative process involves hand sketching, digital modeling, and adapting to the support (wall, canvas, sculpture).
- He cites Caravaggio, Canova, Zaha Hadid, Lebbeus Woods, Boris Tallengen, and Daim as influences.
- His solo exhibition opens December 7 at Galleria Bugno in Venice.
- He is moving beyond letters to integrate geometric elements in his work.
Entities
Artists
- Manuel di Rita
- Peeta
- Daim
- Delta
- Boris Tallengen
- Loomit
- Caravaggio
- Canova
- Zaha Hadid
- Lebbeus Woods
- Alessia Tommasini
Institutions
- Galleria Bugno
- Artribune
Locations
- Venice
- Italy
- Germany