Reimagining the Purple Gallinule

Olimpia Zagnoli's bird has plenty of style鈥攂oth on and off the page.

John James 探花精选 rhapsodized about the Purple Gallinule 鈥渇lirting its tail while gaily moving over the broad leaves of the water-lily,鈥 its 鈥済raceful movements, and rich hues of its glossy plumage!鈥 Upon seeing his painting, was similarly blown away by the bird鈥檚 splendor. Zagnoli, 33, is known for a style that mingles soft shapes and vibrant hues. A fan of punk rock, city architecture, and the late American artist and social activist Keith Haring, she lives in Milan, where fashion and style play a strong part in her bold illustrations. When she is working on a subject she first sketches it on paper to play with ideas and how she wants to frame them, then brings them to life on a digital tablet. 鈥淚 try to always add a touch of irony to my work to make it look artistic but not too serious,鈥 she says. 鈥溙交ň♀檚 Purple Gallinule is incredible. I hope my art could generate the same feeling I got when I first saw it.鈥