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InspirationIllustration

Jules Magistry's illustrations of adolescence, masculinity and violence in a modern world

Jules Magistry blends a little anime, manga and comic book art to dream up his thought-provoking illustrations, all centred around the theme of adolescence, masculinity and violence.

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Figure with dark hair wearing white t-shirt printed with "I BLAME SOCIETY" and a revolver design, against a bright blue background with a palm tree

The Paris-based illustrator loved drawing as a child, apparently inspired by '90s pop culture icons like Power Rangers, Sailor Moon or Tekken characters. But it wasn't until a brief stint in law school and a few years working in graphic design for publishing houses that he decided to pursue illustration as a career instead. It was also during that time that his work took a darker turn.

"I really began to focus on adolescents because it was hard for me to live it and to let go," Jules tells Creative Boom. "I studied mass shootings, young human beings, strong feelings, tragedies… beginning with Columbine. It shows so much about how fucked up things are – the relations between parents and teenagers, the authority, the lack of taking young people seriously, the hierarchy a shallow world already put in institutions like schools, the role of the media… It’s so deep and powerful and now with the Parkland Kids, it’s even more powerful and touching."

Everything in these depressing events spoke to him and informs his work today. There's also a strong feeling of masculinity – an exploration of male youth. "It's about trying to explain and analyse how young men act with each other, how simple things like playing video games, jerking off, being silent, bullying etc., can show so many things and how boys are stupidly raised to be boys only. And all at the time of teenagehood because everything is strong and new, therefore violent, and at the same time childhood and innocence are so close… I try to mix all those things to tell my own stories."

Jules is currently working on a fanzine, which he'll be debuting at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris for the Paris Ass Book Fair in April. He's also got an upcoming exhibition, Impertinent Illustrations, at the Hasard Ludique in Paris in May. There's even a graphic novel in the making. Discover more of his work and what he's up to on Tumblr.

Jules Magistry's illustrations featuring a clenched fist against a yellow background and a Kill Bill-inspired poster with fragmented figures and bold typography
Illustration by Jules Magistry showing two figures in a bright blue bedroom: one standing by a doorway and another sitting on a bed, with video game imagery and a welcome sign on the walls
Illustration by Jules Magistry showing four young people sitting on a picnic bench in a vibrant landscape with oversized flowers, beneath a surreal yellow and orange sky with a white oval void, with hands typing on a keyboard at the bottom
Illustration by Jules Magistry of a blonde youth wearing a "March for our lives" t-shirt sitting on steps, surrounded by comic book-style elements including sunglasses-wearing suns and yellow explosions
Grid of eight illustrated portraits of shirtless young men wearing white shirts and gold chains against a bright blue background, separated by a black band with red hearts
Person in blue Dragon Ball Z costume standing next to retro computer setup with Sonic the Hedgehog artwork against blue background
A teenage boy in a blue striped shirt stands in front of a high school with pink buildings, lightning striking overhead and stars bursting in the sky, with "Nowhere" written in yellow text
Illustrated scene of three young people sitting on a blue sofa watching television with a Game Boy, set against a vibrant blue and pink background with French text referencing Skyrock radio
Two shirtless teenage boys wearing sunglasses lie on a red and white surface beneath a boombox against a bright green background, in an illustration by Jules Magistry
Illustration by Jules Magistry of a young man in a black jacket and blue jeans standing on a yellow platform, with a red-faced figure below and colourful shop signs behind him
Illustration of a bedroom split into two scenes: left side shows a shirtless boy at a desk with a blue chair under framed artwork, right side depicts a boy lying on a bed in blue lighting with photos and posters on walls above
Figure in black coat with yellow stars floating above, standing at white picket fence outside bright pink house on suburban street at night with yellow moon in deep blue sky
Illustration of a shirtless young man lying on a striped beach towel holding a guitar, with an aeroplane flying overhead against a bright blue sky
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