Giovanni Gastaldi: The Self-Described 'Tourist of Illustration'

Giovanni Gastaldi, an illustrator and graphic designer based in the mountains of Cuneo, Italy, describes himself as a 'tourist of illustration' who feels like an outsider in his own field. He graduated in illustration from IED Turin in 2017 and completed the Mimaster course in Milan in 2021. Gastaldi cites Christoph Niemann as a key influence and defines his style as ironic, direct, and increasingly cartoonish. He works quickly, often generating five ideas in three hours, but admits this pace causes anxiety. His dream is to create a New Yorker cover before retiring. Gastaldi sees himself as a versatile professional, not just an editorial illustrator, and plans to pursue alternative projects in 2023, including comics, children's books, advertising, and animation.