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InspirationIllustration

Bold line work and bright colours in Laura Breiling's editorial illustrations on gender, feminism and politics

Berlin-based illustrator Laura Breiling creates a superb line in editorial illustrations, distilling often complex issues into humorous, beautifully drawn and easily digestible images.

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Two women in a bedroom with turquoise-leafed plant and bright green foliage, one seated in yellow shirt holding a fan, the other standing in blue dress

The thoughtful line work and bold colour palettes make for striking work, and Breiling's client list includes Bloomberg Businessweek, The Vinyl Factory, The Debrief, Psychology Today and Reader's Digest (who knew they commissioned such great work?)

Much of Breiling's work explores gender related topics, though she says that her "love for plants also shows up now and then." As well as drawing from these global themes and botany, the illustrator also shows a knack for taking real-life everyday experiences into her work: the image of three girls in headscarves, for instance, was inspired by "three girls I saw at Kottbusser Tor in Kreuzberg [Berlin] a few weeks ago," says Breiling. "I love their style, which is a mixture of traditional clothing and street style."

Woman in yellow swimsuit flexing her bicep whilst sitting on a brown sofa surrounded by potted plants and turquoise curtains in Laura Breiling's illustration
Three women wearing different styles of headscarves and contemporary fashion, including one in an Acne Studios t-shirt, walking together
Woman in blue top and red heels lifting dumbbells while sitting at desk with laptop, plant and papers
Bearded man with dark hair relaxing in a brown armchair, holding a cigar in one hand and a glass of whisky in the other
Two people on mobile phone screens leaning towards each other to kiss, with heart and cross icons displayed below them representing acceptance and rejection in online dating
Two women against a purple background surrounded by illustrated beauty and lifestyle products, one with dark skin and yellow lipstick wearing turquoise, the other with blonde hair applying lipstick wearing dark clothing
Figure diving headfirst into water beside a large turquoise tree with sprawling branches, surrounded by a sandy beach and blue water
Illustrated grid of Laura Breiling's editorial illustrations featuring diverse scenes including people reading, travelling by boat, having conversations, and various portraits in bold colours and line work
White dove holding an olive branch inside a snow globe with water, sand and grey base
Satirical illustration showing a suited figure on an ornate chair beneath a wilting plant, overlooking a dystopian wasteland with industrial smokestacks and distressed figures below
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