ABOUT: Christian Zeppieri

I met Christian Zeppieri at Flevopark during a graffiti jam, with his brother and other great muralists. Christian's work is clean and creative with his character, in various kind of atmospheres. From murals to canvasses and digitals. An all-round artist I look up to. To see his work, go the Café Belgique in Amsterdam, it will be there in an ally for the world to see. This is his story.

Let's start off with a beer. What beer would you say is your favorite?
I'm not really picky when it comes to beer, honestly ahaha as long as it's blonde and ice cold, I'm in! As odd as it may sound, my favorite kind of beer is concert beer—you know, the one in a transparent plastic cup that you chug while a band is rocking on stage! Of course, fancy beers are great, but none hits the spot like that one!

Where did your journey in art began?
My journey in art began as far back as I can remember. From a very young age, I've always had a pencil and paper nearby, constantly sketching and creating. I'd say I knew my direction right away, so art school was an easy choice for me, I grew up in Rome reading comic books, watching classic 90's cartoons and playing shitty videogames that somehow felt super realistic back then ahah, i've always been surrounded by art of all kinds, but what really drew my attention back then was graffiti, i loved the bold lines, the colors on a textured wall, the different styles and the different approaches every artist could take, from stencils, stickers, big ass markers and brushes, to paint filled fire extinguishers and waterguns...possibilities seemed endless. Around the age of 16, i started designing my own stickers and picked up a spray can for the first time...it dripped like crazy and somehow there was more paint on my fingers than on the wall, but it was awesome!

What inspired you to become an artist, and how did you develop your artistic skills?
While attending art school, I was surrounded by friends who shared the same passion for art and graffiti. We used to go out and paint whenever we had the chance to, often exchanging ideas, feedback, and our own stickers and sketches. Countless times, we ditched school just to go paint a wall. All we wanted to do was create art and keep making art for as long as we possibly could—and that's exactly what we did!

I started getting my first commissions by illustrating album covers and T-shirts for local punk rock bands. Over the years, I've worked on a bunch of different projects, from flash games to mobile games to children's books — essentially anything I could get my hands on. About three years ago, I returned to graffiti. It's interesting how, back in the day, I used to incorporate what I had learned from graffiti into my illustrations. Now, 15 years later, I'm incorporating everything I've learned from illustrations back into my graffiti. Everything has come full circle somehow. :)

What's the story behind the famous lizard?
I started making Lizards about three years ago. At first, it was just plain and simple sticker bombing—they were much simpler in design, just monochromatic black with white outlines. I made hundreds of them and started slapping them everywhere! As I kept painting them on walls, their design evolved over time. I began adding patterns, shadows, and chunkier outlines. I wanted them to be more expressive and recognizable. I feel like this current formula works the best for now; it's very versatile and super fun to draw.

Beside the draw and painting artworks you're making, you have your own original art toys. Where did your interest in toys began?
We grew up in the urban jungle of Rome, and the graffiti scene at the time was more alive than ever. It was around 2005/2006, and during a jam, we met the legend Bol23, who had just released his toy 'Squiddy.' It was something we had never seen before, and it absolutely flew our minds. That 'seed' has probably remained planted in our heads since then, and a few years later, we decided to embark on this journey and create our own art toys line.

If you would have to describe your artistic style, what would you say?
My style has changed, adapted, and developed in various ways over the years. Generally, it's a blend of Japanese and American influences. I'd say it borrows a lot from old mangas like Dr. Slump and 90's cartoons like Dexter's Laboratory.

Can you share some of your favorite or most significant artistic projects or pieces you've created?



What do you like the most about what you do ?
I Love the sense of comunity around it, stumbling upon a new piece made by a friend, sharing ideas, building new projects and collabs, and i love the feeling of progression that each drawing brings.

Are there any artist you look up to?
Absolutely! Many different artists from various fields have influenced me over the years, from Renaissance painters to mangakas, animators, and musicians. Toriyama, of course, holds a special place in my heart, but artists such as Flying Fortress, Nychos, Aryz, Michel Gagné, Genndy Tartakovsky, and Fabien Mense have also been huge inspirations.

How do you stay motivated and overcome creative blocks or challenges in your work?
Believe it or not, I dont think i've ever experienced a serious art block! i'm constantly thinking about what do i want to paint next, what kind of pattern i want to try, what kind of mashup i could make, what kind of themed wall we could paint...the only question is whether i'm able to pull it off or not! sometimes i keep ideas or things i want to draw on hold for months, i have sketchbooks filled with old material never used or forgotten, often i go trough them and mix and match things that could work together, or use that as a base to redraw something new.

Not every art, is for everyone. How do you handle critiques or feedback on your work, both positive and negative?
My aim has never been to create art that everyone will like. I'm perfectly fine with the idea that what I make will be neutral for most, liked by some, loved by a few, and hated by some!

The most thing I like to see in an artist is progress. What are your long-term artistic goals, and where do you see your art career heading in the future?
One of my future goals is definitely to create a few large-scale murals, or at least one! ahah Wrapping an entire building in a tsunami of lizards would be so cool! I've also been thinking about installations featuring a bunch of 3D-printed lizards for a while now. We've been brainstorming a lot in the studio at Zepps, and there are a LOT of exciting things in the cooker for the future!

Some artists feel they have a deeper meaning regarding their artwork. Does your art have a deeper meaning to you?
Some of my oldest works definitely have some sort of narrative, but for the most part, I like to approach my art lightly and playfully. I wish there was a deep, cool, and meaningful reason behind the lizards, like bats for Bruce Wayne ahah, but there isn't! It's a simple formula: they all share the same base, but each one has its own unique pattern and personality... and that's about it!

We talked about your own art toys line, but there is more. You offer this services for other artist to make their toy line as well. Can you tell us more?
Absolutely! Beyond our own line of art toys, we're thrilled to offer a service where we collaborate with other artists to bring their creative visions to life in the form of unique toy lines. We provide full support throughout the process, ensuring each artist's ideas are realized with passion and precision—no AI, no mass production, only limited pieces. It's incredibly fulfilling to see diverse artistic expressions translated into tangible, collectible pieces

For more on the toys, go to https://www.thezepps.com/

If any artist would collab with you on that, what do you recommend they do?
Easy peasy! If any artist is interested in collaborating with us, we recommend reaching out via our website thezepps.com or directly trough Instagram to discuss their creative ideas and vision. We'll discuss the best approach, the number of pieces the artist would like to release, and BOOM! we'll make it happen!

Do you have anything else to you would like t share with the world?
The journey to becoming an artist is like being stranded at sea; there's no set direction or path. Don't lose hope! Keep drawing, keep rowing, there's islands everywhere beyond the horizon.