Stefano Tesei: Hybrid Creatures and Dark Humor in Illustration

Stefano Tesei (b. 1992, Cattolica) is an Italian illustrator whose work blends irony, humor, and the fantastic with a dark, unsettling atmosphere. He studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera and ISIA Urbino, earning a degree in graphic design and illustration. His images range from chaotic, hyper-colored compositions to stark black-and-white illustrations with sharp contrasts. Tesei describes his process as assembling a mosaic of images from his notebooks, aiming to create generative narratives through contrast. He has collaborated across animation, illustration, and music, with a focus on self-production and teaching via workshops. A recent project includes contributing to the illustrated insert of Fulminacci's album "infinito+1," a collective work by twelve illustrators. Tesei's work was featured at the Sexto 'Nplugged festival in 2023.