Laika: number one in Italian street art

His unmistakable signature often appears on the walls of Rome . But about Laika , the Italian Banksy, we only know that his activity as a street artist coincides with a great civic passion. And with campaigns, through posters and murals , ranging from the defense of migrants to complaints of harassment suffered by women . From financial crimes to innocent people who end up in prison.

LAIKA STREET ART

We know very little about Laika, almost nothing. On her website ( www.Laika1954.com ), she presents herself wearing a white mask and a red wig . She explains why she wants to remain mysterious: "It's not important to know who's behind the mask; the important thing is to know that in front of her is a woman who interprets reality with irony." And again: "I've realized that separating my appearance from my content is an interesting mechanism. Nothing of me is visible, and this can enhance my artistic journey. Art , in any form, always has a component that impacts society. Sometimes it's obvious, other times it's hidden."

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LAIKA THE ITALIAN BANKSY

Also on the website, and again with irony, Laika describes herself as "a Roman poster-bill poster artist active since 2019," and we know she chose this name as a tribute to the first living being in space. But on the streets, her posters and murals are prominent. One stands out, an image of which has gone around the world: an affectionate embrace between Patrick Zaki and Giulio Regeni . A large and effective depiction of a tragedy, placed with evident provocation on a wall a stone's throw from the Egyptian Embassy in Rome.

The images are taken from the Facebook page of the street artist Laika

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