Giuliano Buttafuoco depicts character through bright colours and sparse details

Milan-based illustrator Giuliano Buttafuoco has a portfolio bursting with colour and promise. His style focuses on the shape and form of his characters and environments rather than detail but Giuliano is still able to capture a real sense of atmosphere within his illustrations.

While there’s several standalone illustrations that stick out like Taco Bill and Friends Don’t Lie, it’s Giuliano’s series Refugee Olympic Athlete Stories – Rio 2016 that really highlight his talents. The illustrator has told the stories of the Refugee Olympic Team at this year’s Games through a sequence of images that give insight into what each athlete has overcome and how sport has helped them.

In the series, Giuliano illustrates Poole Misenga, James Chiengjiek and Yusra Mardini. The narrative in each story is strong and told succinctly through punchy visuals that retain Giuliano’s cheery colour palette, but don’t shy away from the danger and sadness these athletes have gone through.