Artivism on Paper: Laika’s Original Sketches
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Laika’s “Artivism on Paper” Exhibition Opens in Rome
Table of Contents
A showcase of original sketches highlighting social injustice and human rights.
Artivism on Paper: Laika’s Original Sketches
21-30 Marzo 2025
AuditoriumArte – Auditorium Parco della Musica Ennio Morricone
Ingresso libero
A cura di Rosa Polacco e Galleria Rosso20sette
Since 2019,the artist known as Laika1954 has been transforming walls in Rome,italy,and cities worldwide into powerful tools for denunciation and awareness. Through impactful posters, installations, and murals, Laika shines a spotlight on injustice, human rights violations, social inequalities, and oppressive politics. Laika’s mission remains clear: to give voice to the most vulnerable, denounce abuse, and promote a more just and inclusive world.
Her artistic interventions have reached symbolic and strategic locations, including the balkan route in Bosnia, the border wall between the United States and Mexico, and the borders between Poland and Ukraine, and Finland and Russia. She has also worked in Ciudad Juarez,Mexico,to denounce femicides,and in Frankfurt to challenge the ECB,as well as in numerous other Italian and European cities.
The “Artivism on Paper” exhibition, hosted at the Auditorium Parco della Musica in Rome during “Libri Come 2025,” showcases laika’s original sketches on paper of her most celebrated and widely recognized works. Thes drawings have given life to iconic pieces seen on walls, in newspapers, and across social media.
Featured Works in the exhibition
The exhibition includes a diverse range of works, each addressing critical social and political issues:
- italianità (Roma, 2024): A sketch of the poster displayed in front of the CONI headquarters to celebrate the Italian women’s volleyball team, Olympic gold medalists in Paris, and to promote a multi-ethnic, anti-racist, and inclusive Italy. The poster was vandalized, sparking widespread international media attention.
- Vivas Nos queremos! (Ciudad Juarez, 2023): A work posted in the violent Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to denounce the high number of femicides.
- Ila Resisti (Roma,2024): A piece displayed in front of the Hungarian embassy to denounce the inhumane detention conditions of anti-fascist activist Ilaria Salis. The poster helped maintain attention on the case until her release and is now the cover of Ilaria Salis’s book “Vipera.”
- There is no American Dream (San Francisco, 2023): A sketch of the poster displayed in the Tenderloin district of San Francisco to denounce the devastating Fentanyl crisis in the USA, a drug that kills thousands of people each year. This work is part of the “States of Injustice” project.
- JR-15 (Austin, Texas, 2023): A work denouncing the production and sale of the JR-15, a scaled-down version of the AR-15 assault rifle designed to train children in the use of firearms.
- Bloody Democracy (Austin, Texas, 2023): A depiction of a bullet, a harsh critique of U.S. gun policy.
- Safe at School (Uvalde,Texas,2023): A work depicting a child going to school with a bulletproof vest and helmet,posted on the memorial for the victims of the Robb Elementary School massacre in Uvalde.
- Fight for (y)our rights (San Francisco, 2023): A poster displayed in the LGBTQIA+ district of Castro, inspired by the famous photo of the Battle of Iwo Jima, to emphasize the importance of collective struggle for civil rights.
- Bump Check (Austin, Texas, 2023): A work against Texas’s anti-abortion laws, denouncing police checks at state borders
Laika’s “Artivism on Paper” Exhibition: A Q&A guide
This article answers frequently asked questions about Laika’s “Artivism on Paper” exhibition in Rome, offering a comprehensive overview of the event and the artist’s impactful work.
What is Laika’s “artivism on Paper” exhibition about?
The “Artivism on paper” exhibition showcases the original sketches by the artist Laika1954. These sketches are the foundation for her widely recognized street art, which addresses social injustice, human rights violations, and political issues. The exhibition provides insight into the creative process behind her impactful works seen on walls,in newspapers,and across social media.
where and when is the laika exhibition held?
the exhibition is held at AuditoriumArte – Auditorium Parco della Musica ennio Morricone in Rome from March 21st to march 30th, 2025.
How much does it cost to enter the exhibition?
The entrance to the “Artivism on Paper” exhibition is free (Ingresso libero).
Who is Laika1954?
Laika1954 is an Italian street artist known for using her art as a form of activism. Since 2019, she has been creating impactful posters, installations, and murals that address:
Injustice
Human rights violations
Social inequalities
Oppressive politics
Her art gives voice to the vulnerable and promotes a more just and inclusive world. (@laika1954 on Instagram)
What is “Artivism”?
“artivism” is a blend of “art” and “activism.” It describes the practise of using art as a tool for social or political change. Laika’s work exemplifies artivism by using her creations to raise awareness and advocate for various causes.
What kind of issues does Laika’s art address?
Laika’s art tackles a wide range of critical social and political issues, including:
Femicides
Racism and xenophobia
Gun violence
Anti-abortion laws
The Fentanyl crisis
Inhumane detention conditions
LGBTQIA+ rights
Where has Laika’s work been displayed?
laika’s artistic interventions have reached numerous locations, including:
rome, Italy
Cities worldwide
The Balkan Route in Bosnia
The border wall between the United States and Mexico
Borders between Poland and Ukraine, and Finland and Russia.
Ciudad Juarez, Mexico
Frankfurt, Germany
* Various other Italian