Graphito Speedy Biography
Speedy Graphito, born in Paris in 1961, is also known as Olivier Rizzo, is a renowned French painter considered one of the pioneers of the French urban art movement. He uses both stencils and brushes in the execution of street art paintings, prints and murals. Since 1984, his works have been featured in numerous exhibitions internationally, while he himself has created numerous performance art events. Speedy Graphito embarked on a brief career as a graphic designer and art director, before joining the X-Moulinex collective in 1983, from the household appliance company of the same name, which he left in 1984. Speedy Graphito has participated in a number of art exhibitions mainly in Paris , only to see his works fill art galleries across the rest of Europe in the 1990s. In his creations there are often schematic and dynamic characters, which recall the technique of other artists such as Javier Mariscal and Keith Haring. He is also inspired by American art of the 1950s, cartoons, manga, as well as images belonging to the Mayan culture. His creations are also influenced by the iconography of Disney characters and video games. Speedy Graphito currently resides and works in Paris.
