ARTIST BIO
JONATHAN VERMERSCH
Jonathan Vermersch is a French illustrator whose recognisable style has been commissioned by household names such as Apple, Lad Bible, Pull & Bear, Kappa, Spendesk and indie magazines. Jonathan holds a Degree in Animation from the prestigious Gobelins, l’Ecole de l’Image Paris and a MA in Illustration from University of the Arts London.
"I always felt like I had too many ideas in my head, too many things I wanted to say. Creating stories on paper by giving life to this complicated universe full of moving characters and objects is my way of letting my thoughts out in a condensed way.”
From his earlier studies and work in the movie animation industry, movement has remained a central pillar of Jonathan’s practice. From elongated bodies to stretched proportions, the sense of a moving image always finds its way back into his illustrations. Taking inspiration from his personal experiences, relationships, social media and other elements of modern-day society, he opens the door to a world in constant motion and playful interactions between the characters he gives life to.
The search for perfection is apparent in Jonathan’s works and often leads him to create several iterations before the final version. Jonathan uses symbols and regular patterns to create powerful and rhythmic illustrations while conveying an unexpected sense of calm and harmony. To prevent himself from spiralling into an endless spectrum of choices and composition, Jonathan consciously keeps his work simple with balance and discipline. With simple lines and only a few colours in his palette, Jonathan progressively let go of the obsession for the final result and enjoys the present moment as part of the journey.
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Education | MA Illustration, University of the Arts London; Degree in Animation, Gobelins, l’Ecole de l’Image Paris
Group Exhibitions | Apple Stores Feature (worldwide), 2019; Lab Arte Apple (Milan), 2019; Lustr Festival Random Collective (Prague), 2019; Secret 7s (London), 2018
