Rich Pellegrino is a very talented illustrator and artist, based out of Providence, Rhode Island. His use of color and light gives the portraits a whimsical feel, while staying true to the individual’s character. Rich has an ongoing series of pop icon portraits which feature the head and shoulders of Marilyn Monroe, The Royal Tenenbaums, Willy Wonka, and Star Wars, to name a few. In his recent series, “RESUSCITATORUM“, Rich dives into a new realm by showcasing the entire body of his subjects. Resuscitatorum is Latin for “reinvigorate” or “refresh”, which perfectly describes his reinvention of European fairy tales. Right now, you can see his exhibit at Translations Art Gallery in Canton, Ohio. Be sure to keep up with Rich’s blog for previews of his latest work, exhibition schedules and more. I especially enjoy his sketch book pages, many featured below, that he posts on his blog! Also check out his Etsy page to purchase prints and original art! And appreciate his work on Behance.

“During my research for this show I was re-introduced to the European fairy tales by famed writers Charles Perrault, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, and Joseph Jacobs.  I also revisited some of Shakespeare’s plays and the Bible.  Fables such as “Sleeping Beauty” and “The Girl Without Hands” inspired me to reinterpret these tales in new ways. My thought was to simplify each into a single narrative portrait of the protagonist with ornaments gathered from her journey.” – Rich Pellegrino