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Vibrant Cover Art for The New Yorker’s “Spring Style” Issue Is Inspired by Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo New Yorker Spring Style Issue Malika Favre New Yorker Gif

Illustrator Malika Favre is known for her minimalist designs that play with form and color. For her latest project—which happened to be the cover art for The New Yorker‘s Spring Style Issue—Favre took this aesthetic approach to the next level in order to channel a certain kind of iconic style.

Aptly titled Spring to Mind, this graphic employs a tropical palette and jungle of floral motifs to symbolize the start of the season. When coming up with this design, however, Favre looked to much more than Mother Nature. In fact, she found most of her inspiration in the paintings and personal belongings of Frida Kahlo, an artist who made bright hues and eye-catching patterns her signature.

While the female that is featured front and center of the image is not intended to represent Kahlo, the blossoms and blooms that she wears on her head pay playful homage to the artist. In addition to these motifs, Favre creatively captures Kahlo's energy and vibrancy through the use of expressive brushwork and an explosion of color.

Clearly, the illustration needs little help popping off the page. However, animator Mathieu Maillefer has worked his magic to make the image move before your eyes, taking Favre's idea of “energy and vibrancy” to hypnotizing new heights.

The New Yorker‘s Spring Style issue is on stands now.

See “Spring to Mind,” Malika Favre's cover for The New Yorker‘s Spring Style Issue, come to life!

Frida Kahlo New Yorker Spring Style Issue Malika Favre New Yorker Gif

The New Yorker: Website | Facebook | Twitter | InstagramYouTube
Malika Favre: Website | Twitter | Instagram 

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by The New Yorker.

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Kelly Richman-Abdou

Kelly Richman-Abdou is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met. An art historian living in Paris, Kelly was born and raised in San Francisco and holds a BA in Art History from the University of San Francisco and an MA in Art and Museum Studies from Georgetown University. When she’s not writing, you can find Kelly wandering around Paris, whether she’s leading a tour (as a guide, she has been interviewed by BBC World News America and France 24) or simply taking a stroll with her husband and two tiny daughters.
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