WorkIllustration

Ana Popescu's vibrant illustrations inspired by Palm Springs villas

These hugely appealing illustrations by Ana Popescu were apparently inspired by a combination of Europe's modernist buildings as well as mid-century villas in Palm Springs. "They don’t exist, they are fictional homes," explains Ana, who finds most of her inspiration online.

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Modernist concrete villa with arched colonnade and tall cacti beside a turquoise swimming pool with geometric loungers under a pale blue sky

Born in Romania and now living in Austria, Ana finds her work nostalgic, given that the style of architecture reminds her of home – particularly the artworks inspired by Bauhaus buildings.

Part of her Homes series, which includes acrylic paintings on paper illustrating a "utopian view of the concept of home", the illustrations offer playful, geometric shapes, vibrant colours and a strong contrast of light and shadow. And the depicted buildings, swimming pools and plants show distorted perspectives and empty living spaces that leave you wondering, where has everyone gone?

Ana adds: "The work dissolutes itself from the characteristic of a personal living environment. The new architectural excerpts like the inside/outside views are the assembly parts of new integral spaces."

Illustrated poolside scene with geometric green chairs, a tree and cacti on sandy ground beside a turquoise swimming pool under a blue sky
Modernist illustration of a desert villa with geometric architecture, terracotta loungers, white counter, red bottles, green cactus and turquoise pool against blue sky
A minimalist interior with mustard-yellow and pale pink floorboards, two red chairs, a blue bench, abstract wall art and a window with cacti, rendered in geometric shapes and soft colours
Minimalist interior illustration with geometric furniture, potted cacti, and a view of a desert landscape and pool through large windows
Aerial view of a modernist villa with geometric shapes, featuring a green pool, terracotta-dotted paved area and ochre building against a golden sky in Ana Popescu's illustration
Fictional interior with yellow speckled wall, green furniture and black floorboards with white spots in Ana Popescu's illustration
Modernist courtyard with turquoise pool, red chair, potted cactus and geometric paving viewed through floor-to-ceiling windows under concrete overhang
Illustration of a minimalist living room with a pink sofa, yellow cushion, wooden table and chairs on a patterned floor, with green dotted wall, cactus and red object in background
Colourful illustration of modernist buildings with textured surfaces in red, cream and grey, set against a golden ground and blue sky with green hills
Illustration of a modernist swimming pool with geometric concrete surround, tall green cactus, red chair and striped shadow against a flat landscape of green and blue tones
Stylised illustration of a poolside scene with turquoise swimming pool, sunloungers on terrazzo flooring and a red brick structure against a green sky
Illustration of a modernist villa courtyard with turquoise swimming pool, yellow sun lounger, green succulents and geometric architecture against a deep blue sky
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