Expressive Portraits by Ulises Mendicutty

Barcelona-based illustrator and art director Ulises Mendicutty creates layered portraits where stylized realism meets surreal exaggeration. His work often moves fluidly between two distinct worlds: one grounded in detailed, expressive likenesses, and another bursting with playful distortion and cartoonish charm.

The faces in Ulises’ portraits are adorned with juxtaposed elements like oversized tears, glowing flames and radiant sparkles, blending tenderness and intensity in a striking visual language. Each portrait feels alive with contrast, featuring soft textures against sharp shapes, melancholy fused with humor, and vulnerability framed by vibrant pinks and reds.

Over the years Ulises has lent his distinctive touch to Google, The Guardian, Adobe, Vice, Penguin Random House, Universal Music and more. His work spans from editorial and advertising to murals and exhibitions, all unified by a vivid sense of storytelling and a fearless approach to color and form.

You can discover more of his work on his website, Behance and Instagram.

More illustrations via Instagram