Mariuska: Pop and Glamour in Illustrations

Mariuska, born Marianna Zanella in Venice in 1989 and based in Milan, creates illustrations defined by synthesis, flat often geometric fields of vibrant color, and silhouettes cut from a pop imaginary, blending irony and glamour. She describes her work as playing with everyday forms, adding touches of eroticism, irony, and femininity, with the primary intention of creating a decorative object. Her key influences are Andy Warhol, who began as an illustrator, and Aubrey Beardsley. She has adapted to digital illustration for its efficiency but values drawing on paper for its spiritual quality. Her creative process involves building a personal visual archive and removing rather than adding, which she links to her obsession with silhouettes. During lockdown, she maintained discipline with healthy eating, yoga, and drawing, considering her home a studio. Her dream project is to illustrate a book cover. Future goals include finding an agency to represent her so she can dedicate herself fully to illustration.