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WES | ILLUSTRATOR 🏳️‍⚧️(@wes_leal)'s profile avatar HD Profile

WES | ILLUSTRATOR 🏳️‍⚧️

@wes_leal

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PROFESSIONAL DRAWER OF SILLY THINGS
✹ Represented by @butterrepresents 🇿🇦
✹ Represented by @relevantlicensing 🇬🇧
📩 [email protected]
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Join us on 6 May for an artist talk with illustrator @wes_leal ! He’ll take us through his character-driven storytelling and speak about how he translates complex brand messages into inviting visuals that foster community and inclusivity. Wes Leal is an illustrator and maker based in Cape Town, working with clients around the world, including Nike, GoDaddy, and the V&A Waterfront. After graduating from art school, Wes moved into illustration as a freelance artist while also developing his own line of products. His work aims to build community, balancing meaning with a sense of silliness and lightheartedness. By prioritizing personality over perfection, Wes creates worlds rooted in community, pride, and an offbeat sense of humor. Hit the RSVP button in the bio + bring a friend 💕 6 May 18:30-21:00 Bree Street Community Hall at Clarkes Cape Town by @wes_leal
9
6 months ago
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There are quite a few new people over here so I thought I’d take the opportunity to reintroduce myself a little bit. The perks of having a boyfriend who also happens to be an extremely talented photographer is brand new head shots on demand. @michaelgoldsmid Shannon is 6 years old and full of beans, he’s a super chatty guy who will at all times be found on my desk overseeing various tasks from emails to packaging. Fun fact about me, I have major dyslexia so Shannon also works hard at checking my spelling. If you see spelling mistakes blam Shan. I studied Contemporary Art at the Cape Town Creative Academy. I loved my degree but when it was done I felt completely directionless. I took some time off after graduation and found my love for illustration. My work is always a little silly and light hearted, I fully believe that you can make work that means a lot without taking itself too seriously. I like to make work that’s relatable and fun. I’ve been a plant collector for many years. The reason I have so few is honestly just because I ran out of space Music has been the thing that has gotten me through so many hard times in my life. I’m a vat of useless knowledge on music and bands from the 70-90s. I also love a good music documentary. I’ve always loved creepy critters, as a kid you could almost always find me playing in the dirt with the worms and spiders I found this massive snail in Thailand and he was generous enough to pop his head out for a selfie with me. I love the weird and wonderful. Leigh Bowery has been an inspiration since I was a teen so getting to experience this show in London was incredible. I think in a past life I must have been a pirate. 🏴‍☠️ there’s something so androgynous about pirates and how they’ve been portrayed in movies that just resonates with me. I can’t make a decision but I have great style I only learned to drive at 25 😅 My boyfriend bought me a little film camera for my birthday a few years ago and I hardly leave the house without it. I’ve loved Andy Warhol since I was very young but I only discovered his illustrations as a teen. Since then I’ve been obsessed. Thank you for letting me share a little bi by @wes_leal
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4 months ago
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365 days ago my life changed forever. This is a reflection on those beautiful messy days leading up to and after top surgery. by @wes_leal
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5 months ago
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Hello, I disappeared from here for a while… more on that later but for now here’s a lil guy by @wes_leal
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5 days ago
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Just a couple of guys I made for Bloom & Bliss 3.0 this group show is always so sick and it’s always an honor to share wall space with such amazing people. The show will be up from 26/09 - 16/10 at @brutal_curation pop in and check it out or shop the full range of prints online by @wes_leal
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22 days ago
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Bloom & Bliss 3.0 The annual print show (26 Sept - 16 Nov) Opening 26th September 2026 11am - 4pm Vinyl by @roastinrecords wine by @lubanziwines bagels by @bagelz.bagelz @cedarcoffeeroasters @jackblackbeer and @ilovescreenprinting for some live tee and tote printing. BRUTAL. Project Space Side Street Studios 48 Albert Road, Woodstock @brutal_curation @sj_artists_ @shanijudes Artists Amy-Lee Tak Anna Nurse Atang Tshikare Austen Gordon Black Koki ​Brett Williams Bushy wopp Cerbastian Davids Chris Auret Darren Troye Dayna-Gay Tate Elize VossgÄtter Ellená Lourens Erin Savage Eva Faerch Fhatuwani Mukheli Frans Smit Gerhard Human Good Day TonTon Heather Moore Hugh Fletcher Jason Viljoen Jess Bosworth Joh Del Johnny Allison Kilmany-Jo Liversage Kimbolino Kyle Jardine Lauren Fowler Lollo V.W Marti Lund Mishal Weston MJ Lourens Motel7 Naledi MoDupi Norman O’Flynn Pippa Pereira Renée Rossouw Simon Berndt St. John Fuller Studio Muti Swain Hoogervorst Tara Deacon Tom Culberg Tyler B. Murphy Wes Leal artwork by @wes_leal @amylee_originals @annanurseartpage @atangtshikare @austen_gordon ​@brettwilliamsart @bushywopp @blackkoki ​ @cerbastian_davids​ @chris_auret @darrentroye @studiodaynagay @illo_eva @elizevossgatter @ellenalourens @fhatuwanimukheli @franssmitart @thegerhard @good.day.tonton @heathermooredesigns @hugh_fletcher_cox_design @jason_the_jasonjason @jess.bosworthsmith @joh_del @johnny1allison @kilmany_jo @kimkimbolino @kylejardineart @bylaurenfowler @lollo.v.w_photography @_marti.macfly_ @mishalweston @mj.lourens @motelseven7 @naledi.modupi @norman_oflynn damnitpippa @reneerossouwstudio @1horsetown @stjohnfuller @studiomuti @swainhoogervorst @taradeacon @tomcullberg @tylerbmurphy @wes_leal taken in Side Street Studios by @wes_leal
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24 days ago
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Enough is enough End GBV now Stand up South Africa, do something before it’s too late, it’s already too late by @wes_leal
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a month ago
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02.10.26 Link in bio by @wes_leal
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a month ago
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It’s hard to condense this project into one caption but I’m going to do my best. As some of you may know I was joined by 8 other artists on a 48hr residency last month where we were asked to create an artwork that dealt with the idea of reimagined democracy. At the same time hundreds of creatives from around the world were taking part in the same exact process in hubs all across the globe. My series takes on the idea of reimagining democracy through the lense of Ubuntu, community and unity. These works along with others from my hub are currently on display at NIROX and will be available for free use on The greats Thank you to @fineacts For inviting me on this journey and to @kromdraai.hub for hosting me. @fineacts @niroxfoundation @niroxarts @kromdraai.hub @oneworldornone by @wes_leal
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a month ago
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Ai 👎🚫 by @wes_leal
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2 months ago
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Taking a little step out of my comfort zone with some new brushes to make this lil medieval horse guy by @wes_leal
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2 months ago
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Living the dream by @wes_leal
38
2 months ago
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