ABOUT MEHello! My name is Catarina Sobral.
Hello! My name is Catarina Sobral.
I’m an illustrator, picture book writer and director of animated films.
I was born in Coimbra, Portugal, in 1985. I studied Graphic Design and did a Masters in Illustration. In 2011, Orfeu Negro published my first book and, since then, I’ve illustrated twenty picture books and written fourteen of them. (Well, one is a silent book, I don’t know if that counts...)
Playing with the relationship between text and image is at the core of my practice, and while I don’t attain to just one medium, I try to find the best approach that fits each project.
I’ve also directed two animated short films; written and done the art direction of a stage play for children; and produced a radio show for young audiences, with texts by different authors, including some flash fiction of mine as well. I have two courses at Domestika, and teach in two schools in Lisbon, where I currently live.
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CLIENTSClients with whom I’ve been working include:
Público
Expresso
Diário de Notícias
Visão
Magazine Georges
Triciclo Editora
La Leche
Quatro Cinco Um
DDD
Almanaque Saraiva
Cognac’s European Literature Festival
Pestext Festival
Festival 5L
Editions Pióro
Natur & Kultur
Edizioni Bas Bleu
Edições Eterogémeas
Einaudi Ragazzi
Silvadesigners
Non Verbal Club
Amnistia Internacional
Associação Cais
Vista Alegre
Fnac
Djeco
FICA Oficina Criativa
Casa da Música
Museu da Marioneta
EGEAC
INCM
TAP Air Portugal
Niepoort
GUR
Leopardo Filmes
Universal Music
Copine Kinowerbung
Tea Collection
Itaú
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AWARDS & RECOGNITIONSMy work has been recognized by:
Fair – International Award for Illustration
Winner, 2014
Ilustrarte
Finalist, 2016 + 2021
Portuguese National Illustration Award
Winner, 2024
Special Mention, 2011 + 2017
3×3 Professional Show
Merit, 2013 + 2014 + 2016
Honorable Mention, 2014
3×3 Picture Book Show
Best of Show + Silver Medal, 2015
2013 + 2014
Nami Concours
Green Island, 2017
Golden Pinwheel Award
Finalist, 2017 + 2018
Portuguese Authors’ Society Award
Best Children’s Book, 2013
Amadora BD – International Comics Festival
Best Picture Book Illustration, 2013
Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival
Finalist, 2015
Shortlist, 2015
Cuatrogatos Foundation Prize
Winner, 2016
Serbian International Book Fair
Finalist, 2016
Little Hakka International Picture Book Competition
Finalist, 2017
CICLA Original Illustration Exhibition
3rd Prize, 2023
And exhibited in both solo and group shows:
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
(SELECTION)
Portugal, 2024
3 Foguetões e 1 Caixa de Lápis
Portugal, 2023 – 2017
Num Milionésimo de Segundo
Portugal, 2023 – 2019
Quatre Bicyclettes et un Pot de Crayons
France, 2022
Hiato
Portugal, 2021
Portugal, 2018
Sirenas y Palabras Antiguas
Colombia, 2016
Tão Tão Grande
Portugal, 2016
A Parede dos Desenhos
Portugal, 2016
O Meu Avô
Italy + Portugal + Lithuania + Hungary, 2016 – 2014
Portugal, 2015
La Sirena y los Gigantes Enamorados
Italy + Japan, 2015
Cachimbos e Cartas de Amor
Portugal, 2015
Achimpa
Portugal, 2013 – 2012
Greve
Portugal, 2012 – 2011
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
(SELECTION)
Spain, 2024
CICLA Original Illustration Exhibition
China, 2023
Braga 22x22
Portugal, 2023
Ilustre Sintra
Portugal, 2023
Bologna Illustrators Exhibition
Italy + Japan, 2023 + 2014
PIM!
Portugal, 2024 – 2021 + 2016
Big
Portugal, 2023 – 2021 + 2019
Ilustração Portuguesa
Portugal, 2024 – 2016
Páginas de Saramago
Portugal, 2022
Imagines Nostrae Animae
Portugal, 2022 – 2021
ECOS – Ilustraciones Sobre un Futuro Sostenible
Uruguay, 2021
Spain, 2020
Ilustra 33
Portugal, 2020 + 2017 – 2013
Motim
Portugal, 2019
‘100 Outstanding Picturebooks’ From Around the World
Germany, 2018
Hier kommt Portugal!
Germany, 2018
Ilustrar
Spain, 2018
Coral
France, 2018
Nami Concours Winning Works Exhibition
South Korea, 2017
Três ao Cubo
Portugal, 2017
Playground for Word
UK, 2016
Mostra degli Illustratori Iberoamericani
Italy, 2016
Princípios de Colecção
Portugal, 2016 – 2015
Bulgaria, 2015
Rodapé
Portugal, 2015
Panorama 2015
Italy, 2015
Lo Sguardo Obliquo
Italy, 2015
Macau and Portugal, Art of Illustration
Portugal + Macau, 2015
Cosmos, Uma Odisseia Ilustrada
Portugal, 2014
Pelos Olhos Dentro
Portugal, 2014
Imagens que Contam
Portugal, 2014
Une Saison Graphique
France, 2014
3 Meses e 2 Dias
Portugal, 2013
Como as Cerejas
Italy + Brazil + Colombia, 2013 – 2012
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You can reach me by email at
catarina@catarinasobral.com
For queries concerning book presentations at schools or libraries,
please contact mini@orfeunegro.org
I apologise in advance but I can’t reply to requests for personal projects.
Thank you for understanding.
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Site design by Ana Types TypeLanding page photos by Ana Isa Mourinho
Book photos by Álvaro Martino