Philly Street Art Interviews: Luíza “Nūtō” Cardenuto Makes Personal Art For Public Spaces

This is the fifth post in our fourth season of Philly Street Art Interviews! This season is sponsored by Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and its @PHLAirportArt program, which curates museum-quality art exhibitions that introduce millions of visitors from around the world to the vibrant artistic culture of the region. PHL proudly supports Philly arts and culture/365! Interview and photos by Streets Dept Lead Contributor Eric Dale. Luíza Cardenuto is a Philly-based linocut printmaker born in São Paulo, Brazil. A week ago, I would have said that she’s known for her botanical wheatpastes, but I now know that Nūtō doesn’t really want to be “known for” any one thing. For her, art is more about observation, self reflection, and meditation, and creating whatever she wants is paramount. Nūtō points out the different sections on one of her totems, which unintentionally took on a political meaning after she finished it. When I stepped into Nūtō’s studio for this interview, I was blown away by the sheer volume of creative output on display. There are huge prints on the tables. There’s a massive slab of linoleum on the wall that she’s currently carving. There are drawers full of designs I’ve never seen from...