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WorkIllustration

Comical, plump characters in bold and appealing colours by illustrator Tiago Galo

When it comes to colourful, playful illustration with a deliberate comical touch, Portuguese illustrator Tiago Galo is just the person for the job. His bold, yet sharp drawings often contain characters with satisfyingly plump and curved limbs – a style that he's become renowned for.

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Illustration of a race on a blue track where a figure in red celebrates at the finish line while five identical runners in red and navy compete below

Based in Lisbon, he started his work as an illustrator collaborating in small fanzines and exhibitions, before finishing his degree in Architecture at Universidade Técnica de Lisboa. In 2011, he won the prize for Best Comic at the Amadora BD competition. In 2014, he completed his Art Direction degree at Edit Creative School in Lisbon.

After some years working as an architect he engaged in some kind of soul-searching and returned to his work as an illustrator. Today, he works as a freelance designer and illustrator.

Speaking of this particular series of work, he said: "These illustrations are nothing more than a display of my very own psychoanalysis sessions. I’m always getting odd thoughts in the most common places and everyday situations. I tend to observe people a lot everywhere I go and there’s nothing more surreal and fascinating than the way most people behave. Including myself."

To discover more delightful illustrations, visit www.tiagogalo.com.

Via direct submission | All images courtesy of the artist

A family of four with plump figures in red and blue sit in a living room watching a television displaying a UFO, with matching UFO artwork on the wall behind them
Woman in red top bending down to interact with two small blue figures against a peach background
Hands placing red houses on a Monopoly board showing Lisbon properties, with a snowy effect and blue water visible at the bottom
Two swimmers in a diving pool viewed from above, cradled in an enormous open hand against a blue background with lane markings
A figure in a red jacket and dark trousers floats horizontally underwater against a bright blue background dotted with stars and bubbles
Illustration of a surreal character with a large round body wearing a dark top hat, white moustache and red mouth, with two small red figures sitting on top of its head wearing hats and sunglasses
Illustration by Tiago Galo of a rotund figure in red swimwear with arms raised, standing on a diving board above blue water with a jump rope at their feet
Illustration by Tiago Galo of a woman sitting inside a glass jar with "don't disturb" written on it, against a peachy pink background
Stylised illustration of a figure in a contorted yoga pose wearing dark blue and beige clothing, with an orange circular shape and blue sphere nearby
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