Sara Passamonti is an Italian Designer and Illustrator freelance based in Italy. She is a kaleidoscopic artist, as can be seen from her many productions on her website.
As we ask he to choose her vocation, Sara initially moans as she feels attracted by many artistic disciplines, from illustration to ceramic techniques and graphics to product design. Despite all this, Sara today chooses illustration.
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Where did you grow up, and where do you currently work and live?
I was born in Italy in 1981, in a small town on the Adriatic coast.
I lived first in Milan and Boston, then in New York and Bangkok, but I have decided to transfer the experience I gained to my homeland, Abruzzo, for now. From these years away from Italy, I still carry with me the artistic ferment and the stimuli born from the people I met, the exhibitions I visited, and the landscapes I admired.
I owe this choice to BrickUp. The commissioned work consists of 300 hand-painted majolica bricks, made in collaboration with Chiara Druda and Danny Jorket, to cover 15m2 of the ceiling of a private home. In this work, we have reinterpreted the ceiling of the church of San Donato di Castelli in the province of Teramo, better known as the Sistine Chapel of Maiolica, in a contemporary way.
When or how did you understand you wanted to become an artist?
Even as a child, I showed a powerful aptitude for drawing.
I was different from my peers. While the other children dived into the sea, I remained under the sun umbrella, copying Walt Disney characters into my notebook. And if someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, it was already all written: a painter.
Drawing is a desire, an innate instinct, a need that has always accompanied me. Furthermore, looking at the works of artists I admire always gives me a sense of euphoria, fueling my desire to create.
Could you describe the characteristics of your technique?
My illustrations are changing, and my style is evolving along with them.
I like to show reality without deception. In my most recent characters, I prefer the absence of nuances. I tend to express myself through simple shapes and large areas of flat and bright colors.
What distinguishes your work?
My characters are almost always female figures.
My women have disproportionate bodies with long legs and large feet. They are voluminous, bold, strong and feminine at the same time. And they often have an Asian physiognomy. Maybe because I started drawing seriously again during my months in Thailand.
In most of my illustrations lies the desire to talk about women, about our rights. I feel far from any anachronistic convention regarding the role of women in various fields, at work, within the home, in relation to opportunities. We find all this in Stand by Women, chosen by the Municipality of Cellino Attanasio, in the province of Teramo, to promote the World Day against Violence against Women.
Which piece of your artwork best represents you?
I’t’s ‘Confetti‘ without any doubt. I love the way she relates to space: she fills it, without weighing it down. It is the representation of pure, almost childish joy, generated by a simple gesture. And her grimace makes me smile… and I still choose her today as my profile picture @sarikaiamuri
Who or what inspires your work?
Most of my work is inspired by personal experiences. I often feel compelled to discuss my Italian culture, the pop culture of my childhood, or the place where I currently live while I create a drawing.
One illustration, inspired by the Giro d’Italia cycling event that took place near my home in 2022, honors Alfonsina Strada. I was moved by the determination displayed by each cyclist and their expressions of fatigue. I wanted to dedicate this piece to the only woman who ever participated in the Giro, back in 1924. Her story represents a fight for gender equality during a time when women faced significant challenges.
Even a seemingly ordinary song, like ‘Un’Estate al Mare’ from the 1980s, inspired me. This illustration captures the essence of a joyful era, filled with iconic imagery from my childhood summers.
Is there anything, besides art, that interests you?
I’m not sure, as art surrounds me in all its forms. I find art in everything! In my free time, I dedicate myself to cooking, which I consider an art form as well!
How would you like people to interact with your work?
For me, illustration is a reconnection with myself as a child. I would like it to be the same for those who observe my drawings. I would like my images to create an emotional connection with the most childish part of ourselves to the point of arousing a feeling of euphoria, like the same one I feel when drawing.
Spread the word! Do you have anything exciting coming up?
I am currently finishing an interactive game called Greta’s Wardrobe. It features a silhouette of a woman along with six clothing items styled from the 1930s, designed to be cut out following the hatching lines. This project is an artistic reinterpretation of the classic Paper Doll game from my childhood. It is aimed at adults who still enjoy playing and have a passion for manual skills. Additionally, I am working on another commissioned piece.
Follow Sara on Instagram, buy her art on Etsy or simply visit her website >>
