Italian Cultural Institute Features Street Artists on the Rise

Simone Pallotta, a Public and Urban Art curator based in Rome, brings together the works of 10 contemporary street artists to the prestigious halls of the Italian Culture Institute of NY in the new show: “From Street to Art”. The exhibit delves into the world of Italian public and urban art through these artists who have made a memorable mark on the international art scene –  including Aris, Agostino Iacurci, Eron and Hitnes.

Pallotta said, “My artistic foundations come from Street Art, from the graffiti of the 90’s. Once I had specialized in Art in Udine in 2000, with my cultural baggage, I looked around and I noticed that a lot of the people coming from the world of graffiti had started looking for ways to express themselves by initiating a dialogue with the city rather than confronting it.” This project represents the first time he has worked with the Italian Cultural Institute in New York. It provides a unique look into the passionate and driven individuals who create these works, as well as the issues from their particular cities.

Remarkably, the Italian Cultural Institute permitted the artists to covered its well-known midtown facade – inside and out – with painted works, in keeping with the show’s theme, integrating it with the street itself. One of the artists, Hitnes, covered the second floor staircase wall in a mural of various animals, all portrayed in a brilliant array of colors.

This artist began his work illegally  on trains and walls, painting mostly letters. He gradually made the transition to animals, where he feels most comfortable now. Hitnes’ favorite part of street art is that his works are seen by hundreds of people casually passing by on a daily basis.

The grand opening was June 20th, where it received high praises from audiences of all ages, and will be open until August 20th at 686 Park Avenue. A schedule of exhibit hours can be found on the Italian Cultural Institute website.

–Marissa Bondi