Rotas
Luigi Rota Russo, known artistically as Gino Rota, is a B-boy and graffiti artist born in 1984 in Naples, Italy. He grew up in San Giovanni a Teduccio, a neighborhood in the eastern part of the city known for its raw energy and strong cultural identity. Immersed in the spirit of the streets from a young age, Rota began painting in the late 1990s, launching his graffiti journey between 1999 and 2000 in the suburbs of Naples.
Early in his career, he became part of the TCK collective, a crew committed to embracing and preserving all four elements of Hip Hop culture. His development as a style writer was shaped by the influence of the mid-’90s German school, known for its rigid yet dynamic approach to lettering.
Over time, Rota combined that precision with the spontaneity of tag styles and throw-ups, building a creative process focused on blending block style with throw-up techniques. Central to his work is a deep, ongoing commitment to the evolution of letter structure, which has led to the emergence of a highly versatile and dynamic personal style.
Rota is a long-standing member of Wild Boys Crew, a Neapolitan graffiti collective founded in 2009 and recognized internationally for its influence on the underground scene. He is also a proud affiliate of VMD, the legendary French crew that has long stood as a pillar of the European writing movement.
Throughout his career, Gino Rota has participated in numerous major graffiti events and Hip Hop festivals across Europe. His work has been showcased at Back in the Days in Dresden, GAVE GRAFF in Bordeaux, JUICE Festival in Toulouse, CHROME EXPO in Forbach, Urban Syndromes in Dresden, Back to the Style in Naples, and Amazing Day in Milan, among many other gatherings that celebrate urban creativity and street culture.
In 2025, in collaboration with fellow artist Aldam 1985, Rota created what is now the largest mural on the island of Madeira, located just beneath the CR7 Museum in Funchal. This monumental piece stands as a striking example of how local identity and international graffiti culture can intersect through urban art.
Today, Gino Rota continues to travel extensively across Europe, regularly invited to paint at graffiti events, Hip Hop jams, and urban culture festivals. His work reflects both deep respect for tradition and a restless push toward innovation, making him a respected figure in the contemporary writing movement.
