My first trip to the United States was something I’ll never forget. I was invited by Kevin Harris to paint in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and what started as a single opportunity turned into a three-year connection with the city. Between 2012 and 2015, I returned multiple times and created several murals, each one tied to new experiences and new people.
I had already painted across Europe, but this was different. The scale, the culture, the energy — everything felt new. It wasn’t just about painting walls, it was about meeting people, connecting with other artists, and understanding a completely different side of the world. I met incredible individuals along the way, and those moments stayed with me just as much as the artworks themselves.
One of the final projects I worked on there was at the Museum of Public Art, alongside well-known artists like Smug, Sofles, Belin, among other. The project had a deeper purpose. Kevin Harris was trying to preserve a historic area in South Baton Rouge — a place with cultural roots, including a theater where legendary blues musicians once played. Instead of letting it be demolished and replaced with new developments, the idea was to bring life back into the space through art.
The trips weren’t always easy. The travel was long, back and forth, and demanding. But every time, it was worth it. There was something real about experiencing that side of America — raw, creative, and full of contrast.
One of the murals I painted, a crocodile resting on debris, ended up going viral, reaching far beyond the walls it was painted on. But more than that, it became part of a bigger story — a chapter of growth, exploration, and pushing boundaries.
Looking back, it was one of the best journeys I’ve ever had. Not just because of the work, but because of everything around it.
