Illustrator & art director Marina Esmeraldo splits her time between Barcelona and London, creating colourful images for music, fashion, publications & brands. With her witty and vibrant illustrations attracting a range of commissions, her digitalised drawings are perfect for the internet age.
Informed by her upbringing in northeast Brazil and previous training in architecture, Marina’s style is bursting with experimental shape, pattern and composition, adding a computerised dimension to her once tropical surroundings.
She is also co-founder and art director of In Shades Magazine, a weekly illustrated short fiction magazine.
Marina has exhibited around the world, including in the Venice Biennale, and been awarded honours in Europe, the U.K., the U.S. and Latin America. Her clients include Google, Adidas, Sony, ASOS, Refinery29, Lenny Letter, Wired, and many others.
Projects
- Sound & VisionIllustrator and art director Marina Esmeraldo finds it hard to have hobbies. One day, after years of engaging with music as a passionate fan, she decided to learn the bass guitar. Playing bass should’ve been a way to disconnect from her digital-based design practice, but instead of a hobby it became a project, and a question: What if the artwork she made could react to the music she played? Sound & Vision—a collaboration with filmmaker Ross McClure—takes you through Marina's journey of discovery
- Google x Refinery29I was approached by Google and Refinery29 to take on a challenge: along with Mallory Heyer, a NYC–based artist whom I'd never met, we were to create a huge mural using Google Sheets. I know, right? We were given the assignment to “break the grid”—which literally meant pushing the grid within Google Sheets to its limits, but also tapping into the idea of supporting and celebrating women globally who break free of confined roles and ways of thinking. Our final piece was hand–painted in Brooklyn
Projects credited in
- House TonicHouse Tonic is the Soho House drinks initiative, aimed at promoting the drink philosophy and bartenders of our sites worldwide. It was created to develop a unique drink culture across all Soho House bars through training, inspiration and development. House Tonic All across the world – from our Houses in London, New York, Berlin, West Hollywood and Miami, our hotels in Dean Street and Hoxton, Café Boheme and BKB in Soho and Cecconi’s in Mayfair and Hollywood – we take drinks seriously, whether11
Work history
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Illustrator & Image-makerFreelance
Freelance
I am a London & Barcelona based designer working with illustration and image-making. My work is informed by studies in architecture & graphic design and is an exploration of movement, patterns, bold shapes and colour – always fed by my tropical upbringing in the northeast of Brazil.
I'm always interested in hearing about opportunities, work enquiries, or even just a friendly chat. Say hello! :-)
Freelance
- Freelance
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Skills
- Drawing
- Painting
- Lifestyle
- People
- Digital
- Editorial
- Illustration
- Art Direction Design
- Vector
- Illustrator Photoshop Indesign
- Fashion Beauty
- Gifs
- Mural Art
- Commercial Art Projects
Awards
The Association of Illustrators 2014 Illustration Awards
Shortlisted for The Association of Illustrators 2014 Illustration Awards