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Clever Illustrations Unmask the "True" Identities of Pop Culture Icons

In his amusing series titled Icons Unmasked, Chicago-based illustrator Alex Solis reveals the surprising identities of famous characters in pop culture. These cartoon-style portraits feature a series of costumed figures who unmask themselves, exposing who really lurks beneath the facade. The alter ego is often an unexpected character, as the two don't exist in the same universe: Tweety Bird is actually Big Bird; Grumpy Cat is Garfield; and Peter Griffin is a donut-obsessed Homer Simpson.

Though these mashups might seem unusual, each one is a clever pairing, playing on specific, shared aspects between the characters. The costume and its wearer relate to each other in a deeper, more meaningful way–they all have a similar trait. Some share the same name, others a personality quirk, and a few are the same species. Now that you've seen who these characters really are, it's time to imagine them in a whole new light.

Alex Solis: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Society6
via [This Isn't Happiness]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled "Embroidered Life" that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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