Lorena Spurio: Drawing as a Mirror of the Self

Turin-based illustrator Lorena Spurio, whose clients include The New York Times, the Financial Times, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic, discovered her artistic calling through an Andy Warhol ink drawing. Spurio, born in Reggio Calabria and educated in literature and art history, completed a Master's in Communications and Art in 2018 and later a three-month digital illustration course, where her teacher Pietro Puccio introduced her to Warhol's 'Hands on the Piano.' She credits her academic background with giving her a conceptual approach to illustration. Spurio's personal work often features recurring motifs like the sea, the moon, cats, and ordinary moments, which she says helped her realize what she loves. Her Instagram handle @___wabisabi reflects the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, finding beauty in imperfection. She has worked for publications such as The New Yorker and The Atlantic, and her illustrations for Italo Calvino were part of the Italian Excellence exhibition that toured Melbourne, Kinshasa, and New York City. Spurio has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators (three years running), was a finalist at the Bologna Children's Book Fair, and won first prize at Posterheroes. She notes that awards are motivating but do not guarantee regular commissions. She currently reads Sally Rooney and anticipates Manuele Fior's new graphic novel. Future goals include painting on a larger scale, learning Japanese, and performing a backflip.