Milan-based creative artist Gaia Alari is making waves in the animation and illustration world with her distinctive stop-motion animations and custom illustrations that convey universal human emotions. Her work, which combines childhood wonder with mythological storytelling, has attracted high-profile clients including musical artists Alessia Cara, Porridge Radio, and even international supergroup Coldplay.
Alari's artistic style seamlessly blends figurative and abstract elements, creating what she describes as a dialogue between shapes that captures not just physical movement, but aspirational body language. Her textural, elegant illustrations evoke the imaginative quality of fairy tales and mythology, featuring natural movements that feel both organic and dreamlike. The artist believes her work communicates on a deeper level than traditional verbal expression.
"I believe that art in general is a language that speaks (for those who listen) to a different level than words," Alari explains. "It communicates through a process more similar to digestion, by absorption. The more it raises questions and feelings, the easier it gets absorbed, and the more room the viewer has to project in what they see."
Drawing inspiration from renowned artists including Kiki Smith, Wangechi Mutu, William Kentridge, and Yoshitomo Nara, Alari has developed a visual language that specifically speaks to childhood imagination. Her work captures the kinetic energy found in storybooks and children's drawings, where bodies stretch like winding flower stems and elephants transform into birds that become embracing figures. This stream-of-consciousness approach creates a fluid narrative that defies conventional storytelling boundaries.
The artist's creative philosophy centers on exploring deep emotional territories where feelings become more transparent and less guarded. "I like to go as deep as I can, where emotions are more transparent, less shielded," says Alari. "In that place, they become less clear to identify. They start merging one another, creating a very primal ambivalent connection." This approach allows her to tap into archetypal storytelling traditions that have historically been used to communicate complex human experiences.
Mythical and archetypal storytelling plays a crucial role in Alari's work, as she draws from the mysterious and sometimes dark emotions that humans have traditionally expressed through folk tales. Her animations serve as a modern interpretation of these ancient communication methods, encapsulating the full spectrum of feelings that cannot be easily verbalized. According to Alari, when words fail to express our deepest emotions, we must "dance it out" through visual art.
Alari's portfolio includes notable works such as "Three Movements," "Home," illustrations for The New York Times Magazine, "What Comes at Night," "Hope," and collaborative projects like "UNNA x HOKA." Her work for MoMA further demonstrates her ability to translate complex emotional concepts into accessible visual narratives that resonate with diverse audiences.
The artist's bespoke approach to each project ensures that her animations and illustrations maintain their handcrafted quality while effectively communicating the intended emotional message. Her stop-motion technique adds a tactile dimension to her work that distinguishes it from purely digital animation, creating pieces that feel both contemporary and timeless. Through her unique artistic vision, Alari continues to push the boundaries of how visual art can express the ineffable aspects of human experience.
