This illustrator shows us his diverse, intimate, and colorful queer slices of life

Sunblast

Illustration has always had two sides for me. One is natural. It just happens. Sometimes it’s about releasing pressure, other times I’m just curious about how light behaves or how to place shapes. I don’t wait around for inspiration. If I get an idea, I sketch it before it disappears. The other side is work. When I get a brief, I treat it like problem-solving. I’m not trying to express something deep. I build something from what’s there and see where it goes. A lot of what I do comes from memory. Childhood stuff. Pop cinema, mythology, vintage ads, old comics. I used to play alone, inventing epic stories with toys while classical music played in the background like a film score. Drawing was my way of creating new worlds that didn’t exist for me. My work often has a queer tone, but not because I try. That’s just part of who I am. My audience is mostly queer now, and my professional direction leans that way, but the heart of my work is storytelling. I want people to bring their own meaning to the image. It’s not about explaining everything. I leave space for others to fill the gaps. Lately I’ve been more interested in printed work. Books, printed art, framed art. I moved away from graphic art, merch and wearable art. I’ve gone back to exploring technique, light, texture, and narrative. I’ve also started writing short lines or paragraphs and building the image from there. Like those books I remember with text on the left and a full illustration on the right. That’s where I’m at right now. I never studied art properly. I taught myself. Took what I liked from everywhere. Cinema, psychology, fashion, pop culture. I’m a visual person. Drawing is how I communicate.

Teacups

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Back Exit

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Opal

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Island Magic

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About Last Night

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Park Date

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Blinds

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Run

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Close to me

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Aquarium

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Bear Hug

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Buddies

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Cloudspotting

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Parkland Grove

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Clover

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Boardwalk

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Dunes

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Make a wish

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Meet

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Masquerade

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Waterfall

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Dolce Vita

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Kites

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At the Ritz

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Ego Rodriguez is a queer artist based in London. Ego's work branches from pop culture references growing up, homoerotic representation of the men between the 50s and 80s, mythology, and fantasy. Add some hints of fashion, comic, old vintage ads, french posters and love for bold colours and raw strokes. As much as his appreciation for erotica. He likes his message to be subtle, like a secret code, between the audience and the image: “ You know that you know because you know it”

Arranged for Out.com by Nikki Aye, Digital Photo Editor

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