The bike under the Christmas tree gets a grown-up makeover with a Vespa adorned by lauded Naples artist Carmelo Blandino.
The acclaimed artist, known for his oversized floral canvases, recently launched a collaboration with Vespa Naples for about 20 made-to-order, handpainted scooters with tropical, abstract designs.
Carmelo spent a month and a half creating a prototype, contorting himself into balletic poses, and, at one point, dismantling and reassembling the scooter to get the design right.
Emerald palm fronds flow along the Vespa’s curves, weaving through paint spatters and abstract florals to create a sense of motion. His signature arcs between the handlebars, completing the scooter’s transformation into a rolling canvas.
Each commission integrates the owner’s vision with Carmelo’s signature style—a blend of his Italian heritage and adopted paradise: “There’s a flair for Italian design integrated with the beauty of our beaches and the warmth of Florida and Naples, in particular,” he says.