We’re looking forward to introducing you to Franco La Russa. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Franco, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
1. Lately, I’ve been finding joy in making small things with my hands — crocheting baby blankets, hats, purses, even little toys and Christmas decorations. There’s something meditative about working with thread and seeing patterns emerge slowly, stitch by stitch. It feels very different from my larger art practice, but in a way it’s connected — it’s about creating something intimate and full of care. I’ve also been enjoying new friendships that have popped up in unexpected ways, which has been a real source of joy.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Franco La Russa, (aka Thion) a multimedia artist originally from Italy, now based in London. Early on, I was influenced by artists like Keith Haring and the American Pop movement, who opened my eyes to the power of visual language and popular culture. Over time my work has shifted. My latest work focus on cities — not just their streets and buildings, but the way they blur with memory, imagination, and dreams. I’m drawn to that in-between feeling of being both at home and a stranger. What makes it special for me is that each piece becomes less a picture of a place and more a map of emotions and experiences.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who taught you the most about work?
I’ve learned the most about work from artists whose legacy continues to inspire me, as well as from teachers who believed in me early on. They treated my artistic sensibility as something serious, not just a hobby, and that gave me the confidence to pursue it with real commitment. Seeing how other artists devoted their lives to their practice showed me that work isn’t only about discipline or output — it’s about creating meaning and leaving something that resonates beyond yourself.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that held me back the most was the idea of not being good enough, or not “successful” enough by the standards that are often imposed on artists. Social media has a way of amplifying that pressure — making it feel like you’re constantly being measured against visibility, likes, or recognition. What I’ve come to realise is that art doesn’t need to compete in that space — its value is in honesty, depth, and the conversations it sparks, not in metrics. Letting go of those expectations has allowed me to focus more on the work itself.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
I think the public version of me is real, but it’s only one layer. What people see in exhibitions, on social media, or in interviews is a curated slice — my work, my ideas, my voice. It’s authentic, but of course shaped by context. The fuller version of me includes the everyday mess, the doubts, the experiments that never make it into the public eye. I’m just as expressive privately — maybe even more so — but it doesn’t always take the form of finished artwork. Sometimes it’s simply in conversations with friends or in the freedom to create without worrying about outcome. Those parts are less visible, but they’re just as much “me” as what gets shown publicly.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope the story people tell is that I was someone they could count on — that I showed up, cared, and brought lightness and fun into their lives. That I loved creating and shared that spark, not only through my art but also in the way I lived. And if I inspired even a few people to see the world differently and to imagine more boldly, then that’s the story I’d want to leave behind.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.creathion.com
- Instagram: @thion_artist
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