João Fazenda was born in Lisbon, Portugal, where he studied graphic design and graduated in Fine Arts Painting from the city’s Faculty of Arts. His practice spreads across illustration, drawing, animation, comics and occasionally painting. In his work he aims to explore the endless relationship between drawing and narrative in its many ways. He enjoys creating images with multiple readings for a variety of stories and media.
He finds inspiration in Painting, photography, theatre, music and literature but most of all in his surroundings, in the people around him, the streets he walks by. João’s work can be defined by a balance between the looseness of drawing, dynamic and bold shapes, strong compositions, attention to detail and a sense of playfulness that can be both conceptual and narrative.
He works regularly with publications such as The New York Times, The New Yorker, Boston Magazine, El Pais, Publico or Visão. He has also illustrated children’s books, posters and records covers, had a few comic books published and has directed three animation short films.
His work has been awarded and recognised by American Illustration, Communication Arts, Society For News Design, 3×3. In 2015 he won the World Illustration Award in the Books category and in 2016 he was awarded the Portuguese National Illustration Prize.
He currently lives and works between London and Lisbon.