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Noma Bar: Bittersweet is a celebration of the illustrator's much-loved iconic work

Noma Bar’s innovative, playful style has made him one of the most sought-after illustrators working today, with a broad range of commissions from magazines and newspapers – including Empire, the New York Times, Wired, the Guardian and Time Out – and numerous private and advertising clients.

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Open book spread showing Noma Bar's Murakami-inspired book cover designs on the left page and a red cover with a circular geometric illustration on the right page

His use of negative space and minimalist forms creates images with multiple readings that can delight and shock in equal measure. Each of Bar’s illustrations tells a story that is hidden in the details, with the message revealing itself as you look more closely.

For his new book, Noma Bar: Bittersweet, he has handpicked his most iconic illustrations and favourite works, each one displaying the distinctive style that has established his reputation. The works are organised into thematic chapters such as ‘Pretty Ugly’ (portraits), ‘In-Out’ (sex), ‘Life Death’ (conflict), and ‘Less More’ (daily life). Alongside the images, Bar reveals his working methods and the stories behind his often idiosyncratic inspiration for different illustrations and reflects on how his life experiences have shaped him as an artist.

As a collection, the whole is much greater than the sum of these many, many-layered parts. It is destined to become a must-have reference source for all professionals in the worlds of graphic design and illustration, while also being an enthralling treasury for any follower of visual and popular culture.

Noma Bar: Bittersweet is published by Thames & Hudson, £29.95. A limited, five-volume, slipcased edition containing an exclusive screen print is also available.

Bittersweet by Noma Bar book cover featuring a minimalist black silhouette of a dog's face on a bright yellow background, published by Thames & Hudson
Open spread from Noma Bar: Bittersweet showing a minimalist portrait illustration of a figure with orange hair and cigarette against a black background
Open spread from Noma Bar: Bittersweet showing a minimalist illustration of a woman in silhouette on a red background alongside a page with a red power button symbol
Open book spread showing two minimalist illustrations by Noma Bar: a pink and brown geometric design on the left page and a dark background with a pink circular form on the right page
Open book spread showing Noma Bar illustrations: a red balloon on light blue left page, and a minimalist white fox face on yellow right page
Open spread from Noma Bar: Bittersweet showing a minimalist portrait illustration with yellow hair, large circular eyes and simplified facial features on black background
Open book spread showing Noma Bar illustrations: a minimalist portrait of a man in a bowler hat on a green background, and a black penguin on a blue background
Open book showing Noma Bar illustrations: yellow and black silhouette portraits on left page, and white slip-on shoes with coral horseshoes on blue background on right page
Open spread from Noma Bar: Bittersweet showing a minimalist illustration of a face in profile with pink and black negative space against white pages
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