We are really pleased to announce that Lele Saa, member of #WeAreCambsCreatives, has been shortlisted for the World Illustration Awards 2020 presented by The Association of Illustrators (AOI). Lele’s submission was previously selected as one of 500 longlisted projects from more than 4,300 entries – and has now been selected for the final shortlist of 200 projects!

Lele Saa, an illustrator and visual designer based in Cambridge, balances her part-time role as Creative Director at a UX design and innovation studio with her art practice which involves illustration, frame by frame animation and ceramic experiments.

Hooray! It’s a totem parade! is a mural painted on the exterior of Horizon – a centre for adults with learning disabilities in Cambridge. This piece by Lele stands alongside work by various local artists designed to uplift the outside of the organisation’s facilities.

Lele says: “I tried to create a bold image using the space of the wall in an exciting way. The whole mural can be only seen fully from a specific point of view; marked by a spot on the floor. The main totem figure depicts a Phoenix Bird that is reborn from its ashes and gives a positive message to the viewers.”

The mural was completed across 12 sessions between August and October 2019. Lele notes that ‘the composition grew organically’ taking into account ‘the limitations of the bricks and wall elements’ – although the design was planned digitally beforehand.

The project has been shortlisted in the ‘Site Specific’ category for this year’s World Illustration Awards by the AOI, who have been running an annual illustration competition for over 45 years. You can take a look at all of the shortlisted projects here.

The AOI is the world’s leading illustration body supporting and sustaining illustrators and the illustration industry. They present the awards in partnership with The Directory of Illustration which is widely regarded as the world’s leading marketing program for illustrators. This year they had entries from illustrators in 79 countries.

Congratulations to Lele Saa for being shortlisted – this is such a fantastic achievement!

The award winners, category specific and overall, will be announced on Wednesday 21st October 2020. Celebrations for this year will be rounded off with an online programme of events which is set to include masterclasses, panel discussions and social opportunities for illustrators, agents and commissioners from around the world to meet, explore and celebrate.

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