We’re thrilled to introduce Javiera Mac-lean, the Chilean illustrator responsible for creating the official image of the 13th edition of Kolibrí Festivaali. Her interpretation of the Kolibrí image for the Kaleidoscope theme brings visibility, for the first time, to the diversity and role of contemporary childhoods in Finland.
Mac-lean graduated in Graphic Design from the Universidad del Desarrollo in Santiago, Chile, and completed a Postgraduate Degree in Creative Illustration at EINA – Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. She is a member of the Finnish Illustrators Association, Kuvittajat ry, and currently resides in Helsinki.
Throughout her career, she has received significant awards, including the Imagina Civican 2016. Her illustrations were selected for the 9th Ibero-American Catalog of the Guadalajara International Book Fair, Mexico, 2018. She has also participated in collective exhibitions such as Colour’s Attack, organized by Design & Art Direction, London, 2011.
A multidisciplinary career full of humor and color:
Her curious and enthusiastic personality is present in all her projects. Color, humor, and reflection take center stage, whether in a children’s book, mural, window display, product, or logo.
If you want to enjoy her illustrations in children’s literature, you’ll find up to 11 beautiful works such as:
- Folding Adventure, of which she is the complete author (Bibliographic International, 2016).
- Sustos en el recreo, written by Verónica Murguía (Loqueleo, Santillana, 2022).
- Some Daddies, written by Carol Gordon Ekster (Beaming Books, 2022).
- Spilt Milk, written by Haifa Mohareb Sawarka (Alsalwa Books, 2020).
Possibly her most humorous and playful side is evident with ‘Cazuela.’ A traveling rabbit who takes us to peculiar places around the world, through Instagram.
Her hobbies include “illustrating in all possible formats, skating, making masks and costumes with recycled materials for us and for our little one; traveling to fill my head with new experiences, watching movies, and riding my beloved bicycle”.
She hopes to soon publish the children’s book Vístete, written by the Spanish author Gabriela Rubio, and “a personal album for my little one, among other projects that I can’t talk about yet”. Her most immediate personal challenge is to learn Finnish, so she can feel “more comfortable and confident with future local projects”.
For now, we will enjoy her work and passion at Kolibrí Festivaali, where she will use her illustrations “as a connection to the different cultures embraced by this tremendous cultural event”.
Don’t miss “Face to Face” in September, the Portrait Workshop facilitated by Javiera Mac-lean during the three Family Days of Kolibrí. Save the dates!
- 14.9.2024 | Sello Library, Espoo.
- 21.9.2024 | Lastenkulttuurikeskus Pessi, Vantaa.
- 28.9.2024 | Vuotalo, Helsinki.
You can follow Javiera Mac-lean’s work at:
Web: https://javiera-maclean.myportfolio.com/
Instagram: @javieramaclean
Facebook: javiera.maclean
LinkedIn: javieramacleanilustracion