Loulou João is an Afro Belgian visual artist. Due to her mixed roots she developed an interdimensional worldview. Because of this, she approaches political, cultural, socio-economic and historical aspects of the white world in an analytical way. Investigating how whiteness as a default and the perceived superiority thereof is upheld and how it affects her own identity and position within this societal setting.

She attempts to shine a different light on the narration and representation of women belonging to the Afro Diaspora. She sees blackness as a technology. One that is constantly evolving to survive and go up against issues like objectification and oppression.

By making use of 3D software (Blender), she visualizes her own reality. A digital world that consists of candy coated squishy plastic objects. All while using hyper femme cuteness as her visual language to create a safe space. One where she is able to focus on the expression of her own true self without any constructs weighing her down. Giving her the opportunity to reflect on the struggles she faces and hopefully making topics like mental health, identity and sexuality more discussable.

As a 3D visual artist I have a broad range of creative outputs thanks to the versatility of working with 3D software. Blender is my tool of choice and with it I’m specialized in animation and illustration. I might have only started professionally in 2020, but in that short period I have made editorial illustrations, commercial animations, game assets, a short film, etc. for clients like Adult Swim, BMW, MTV, Spotify, The New Yorker, TIME, Warner Media and many more.

I have created my very own distinct visual style, a whole digital world called the Focketverse. Built as a need to have a safe space, one where there are no boundaries holding me back. A place where I can express myself fully and where others are welcome to have a little escape.

Topics like representation, inclusivity and mental health are very dear to my heart and themes that function as the building blocks of my universe. Everything I create have these engrained in them one way or another. Sometimes I work with these topics in a direct manner and other times they are just part of the piece by the relation they have to the Focketverse and my intentions as an artist.

My visual language is bubbly, vibrant, cute and hyper femme. Coming from the idea that there is a lot of power in cuteness. It has the capabilities to create a visually pleasing and safe environment for the viewer to let down their guard and fully absorb a piece and its message.

So you can be sure that any concept, text or idea will be turned into an approachable quirky piece. Done in a way to ensure the readability, so your story can pop in its own way.

To get more of an idea of my capabilities please check out my portfolio.

ig @louloujoao

Represented in North America and the UK by Snyder
www.wearesnyder.com

A handful of the clients I’ve been honored to work with

• Adobe
• Adult Swim
• BBC
• BMW China
• Burning Man
• Dropbox
• GIPHY
• It’s Nice That
• Mac Demarco
• Medium
• Meta
• Meow Wolf
• Mtv
• Nick Jr
• Spotify
• The New Yorker
• The New York Times
• Time Magazine
• Warner Media

Represented in North America and the UK by Snyder
www.wearesnyder.com

Here is an excerpt of projects besides my commissions and general collaborations (you can find these in portfolio).

2021

Pictoplasma (Berlin, DE), Guest speaker

HBOMax (US), Our stories to tell, panel discussion “animation but make it black”, Online

VAF (flemish audiovisual fund), jury for up and coming animators fund for their animated debut

Animade (London, UK), All Ears Artistic Practice Presentation, Online

Naft , group exhibition in Stem

2020

The print project from Museum Plantin Moretus, Antwerp, Belgium.

These Selves, group exhibition in Pilar, Brussels, Belgium.

Next Generation, group exhibition in Bozar,  Brussels, Belgium.

Residency at the impossible library, Hamburg, Germany.

Short animation: Birth of the Black Venus (first released on Meow Wolfs platform).

2019

Wall paper installation on the occasion of Black History Month in Antwerp, Belgium.

Installation and performance inside the library of Sint-Niklaas, Belgium.

SOLO exhibition during the residency of Bebe Books at Dok in Ghent, Belgium.

Live concert animation projection for Fifty Fifty Sessions at the Beurs in Brussels, Belgium.

Online interviews (Click below to get redirected to the corresponding interview)

It’s Nice That 

Page Germany (in german and english) 

Creative Boom

Brave World

For creative Girls