These Latina illustrators will revolutionize your Instagram feed
From laughs to empowered women, you do not want to miss these Latinas’ Instagrams
Instagram has become in one of the favorite places for artists to publish their work, and it has turned IGNORE INTO the platform that propels them to collaborating with brands, publishing books, or illustrating the covers of the most important magazines of the world, such as The New Yorker. These Latinas have been very wise in the use of this platform, and, if you decide to follow them, they will fill up your feed with color, humor, and unexpected but powerful messages.
Camila Rosa, Brazil
Rosa is a freelance illustrator and designer who began her artistic journey in 2010, when she was part of the urban art collective Coletivo Chá, as stated on her website. Her line of work has a loud and clear feminist message: “My work translates women from an alternative perspective: Latin-American, brave, powerful, and not fitted to mainstream beauty standards. I believe it's important that my work can be used to support and educate girls and women around the world”, as she claims on her website.
One of her most recent collaborations was with Brazilian singer (and superstar) Anitta and the cosmetic brand O Boticario. She has also done posters for The Wall Street Journal, as well as worked with multiple local magazines. Even though she does a lot more than street art now, she has not left her artistic roots behind, and new art pieces pop up in the streets of Brazilian cities.
Sara Fratini, Venezuela
Frantini was born in Venezuela, but then she moved to Spain and later to France to study, and now she lives in Amantea, Italy, according to her website. She has published two books, “La buena vida” (“The Good Life”), and “Una Tal Martina”. She also participated in a book created by multiple illustrators, “No te calles” (“Do not keep quiet”). Besides being an illustrator, she has worked as a muralist.
Her Instagram is also full of feminist and body positive posts. Although her posts and illustrations lean on the monochromatic, they are full of life. She also has a blog, where she accompanies her posts with illustrations.
Catalina Estrada, Colombia
Estrada is definitely one of the more commercial illustrators of our list. The Colombian has resided in Barcelona for almost 20 years, and she has done all sorts of products and collaborations: form bedding and wallpaper, to jewelry, to the branding for Shakira’s Elixir perfume.
On her website, she is described as an “Unconditional lover of nature. Passionate about colors. Fascinated by textures, details, shapes and beauty. Such is Catalina Estrada, Colombian illustrator based in Barcelona since 1999 who has managed to reinterpret the Latin American folklore with its original strength to make it bloom in deep harmony and simplicity. Her impressive and cheerful visual language, infectiously optimistic, with thousands of colors, and with all the power of nature, goes beyond borders”.
Marly Gallardo, Ecuador
Although she is based in Brooklyn, NYC, Gallardo has also managed to cling to her Latin American identity in her work. She has a much more defined color palette, usually working with hues of blues, pinks, and purples. As stated on her Behance bio, “Through selective colors and conceptually driven imagery she creates moody narratives”. She has worked with companies such as Apple and Netflix, as well as The New York Times.
Her work also heavily leans on feminist messages, seeking to empower women through her art. Other than illustrating, Gallardo has also released music on Spotify. She has also looked to maintain an aesthetic that transcends art forms.
Mela Pabón, Puerto Rico
Pabón’s illustrators are often humorous reflections about real life situations we have all been in. Amongst her Instagram projects, she has an illustrated horoscope, which she publishes monthly, although on her bio she states that she is not an astrologist. Her humor is distinctly Puerto Rican and Latin American. Rather than working with brands, she has collaborated with cultural magazines and publications. Beyond illustrating them, she also writes pieces for them.
LatinAmerican Post | Laura Rocha Rueda
