Hunto brings Life to his Street Art Designs with Body Painting, London 2017
Renowned Italian street artist Hunto, now firmly established in East London, has extended his unmistakable visual language from the urban fabric of Shoreditch to the most intimate of canvases… the human body. Known for his bold symphony of colour, fractured geometry, and rhythmic movement, Hunto continues to evolve a practice rooted in the traditions of Cubism and graffiti, while forever seeking new frontiers of expression.
A Legacy of Influence
Deeply inspired by Pablo Picasso, Hunto’s early encounter with Cubism instilled a fascination for distortion, fragmentation, and abstraction. This influence, merged with the raw energy of the graffiti scene, has forged a style that is instantly recognisable and profoundly contemporary. His murals, often found in the unlikeliest of places, rooftops, façades, and inaccessible walls, remain integral to the visual identity of East London’s Shoreditch, a district synonymous with the explosion of street art in the 21st century.
The Body as Canvas
The artist’s experiement into body painting is a natural expansion of his creative journey. “It is not a big challenge for me to paint on the body,” Hunto reflects, “it’s just a little different because I don’t use my spray cans as usual.”
In this new medium, the body itself becomes a collaborator: the curves, structure, and vitality transforming each work into a living garment. For Hunto, the act is an extension of his ongoing exploration of eroticism, intimacy, and human relationships, themes that pulse throughout his oeuvre.
As the artist explains…
“It is nice to follow the curves and forms of the human body. It’s like designing garments to wear, making the body interact with something.”
Enduring Vision
In his own words: “I am painting on something already incredibly beautiful in its essence. The rest is just adding to the beauty, this is the difference from my usual wall or canvas works.”
From the soaring façades of Shoreditch to the intimacy of skin, Hunto demonstrates an artistic dexterity that transcends medium and scale. His work remains a celebration of human connection, visual rhythm, and the transformative power of bold colour, creating contemporary art.
Innovation and Experimentation
While his characteristic palette of saturated hues and bold forms persists, Hunto has also ventured into deconstructing his compositions, producing marble-like abstractions that envelop the body in fluid, sculptural elegance. These painterly experiments blur the line between performance, fashion, and fine art, drawing the attention of the fashion world and further broadening his audience.
With fashion bloggers already embracing Hunto’s latest direction, his move into body painting feels like a natural and exciting addition for an artist whose creativity continues to expand across every canvas.
Image copyright Hunto
Need some Hunto in your life? Check out our interview with Hunto here.
Original artwork by Hunto, including his first-ever screen print, can be found here.