Blurring the lines: how Giacomo Bagnara turns everyday objects into art

Over the past few years, Giacomo Bagnara, an illustrator and artist based in Verona, Italy, has been turning heads with his unique approach to texture and form. His latest series, Blur, takes everyday objects and renders them through the hazy lens of nearsightedness, offering a fresh perspective on the familiar. “I started working on these blurred images three years ago,” Giacomo explains. “I’m nearsighted and was interested in showing people how I see the world without corrective lenses.” This personal challenge has led to a series of works that explore and amplify the effect, finding new and playful applications for it in various contexts.

One of the standout pieces from this series was Giacomo’s collaboration with Adobe for their 2023 Illustrator splash screen. “The concept was applied to the transparent paper of a bouquet of flowers,” he says, demonstrating how he continues to evolve and push the boundaries of this visual technique. Recently, he’s been experimenting with applying the blur effect to moving objects, adding a dynamic twist to his already intriguing work. “The interesting and fun part of my job is experimenting and exploring different things,” Giacomo notes, “This allows me to strive every day to test and try something new.”

When asked about his favourite commissions from the past year, Giacomo highlights three projects that particularly stood out. “I recently designed more than 200 cocktails for a collection of recipes by Kara Newman for Smith Street Books,” he says. This extensive work showcases his ability to balance detail with the playful simplicity that characterises much of his art. Another career highlight was creating a poster for The National’s Italian concert in Milan earlier this year. “I couldn’t be happier,” Giacomo shares, “I’ve been listening to their music for a long time.” He also collaborated with the Spanish circular clothing brand Thinking Mu, crafting a series of artworks for their FW23 collection, inspired by his experimental work with mushrooms and paper compositions. Although there are more projects on the horizon, Giacomo hints that they’re still under wraps for now.

In terms of inspiration, Giacomo keeps things grounded in the everyday. “I am interested in simple things, the things we see every day, perhaps represented with a different perspective,” he says. This approach not only makes his work accessible but also allows viewers to find their own meanings in his pieces. “People who see my pictures often tell me that they make them think of something new and different from what I might have thought when I drew them,” Giacomo reflects. “Everyone sees different concepts and meanings in them, and this to me is a very fascinating thing.”

Food remains a recurring theme in his work, both in personal projects and commissions. “The food is definitely one of the things I mentioned earlier — simple, beautiful shapes, and something we see every day,” he says. It’s this simplicity, combined with the universal recognition of the subject, that keeps him returning to it. His food illustrations have become particularly popular, leading to an increase in related commissions in recent years.

As for what’s next, Giacomo is excited about the future. He’s working on a print shop for his new website, set to launch around autumn or winter this year. And while he’s tight-lipped about upcoming projects, he teases that there’s much more to come. For now, fans will have to keep an eye on his Instagram for the latest updates.