Meet Aurélie Prestigiacomo
Aurélie is a Brussels-based visual artist who draws sunshine and celebrates womanhood through vibrant, graphic illustrations. For her, color is a language of freedom and joy—a way to create powerful, affirming images of women who take up space.
Working from her studio at LionCity in Molenbeek, Aurélie's practice spans illustration, painting, and sculpture. Each piece is an invitation to live in the present moment and find beauty in everyday life.
Here's what she shared about her creative journey, her process, and why representation matters.
How did you become an illustrator, and when did you start Sunprise Studio? Was there a trigger moment when you thought, "I want to draw sunshine and celebrate women"?
It all started during the Covid crisis. It was a really hard period for me. Being deprived of freedom was deeply anxiety-inducing, and I needed to escape, to find an inner refuge. That's when I started drawing. Before that, I thought it wasn't for me, that drawing was inaccessible. But it turned out to feel completely natural. Today, my practice goes beyond illustration: I'm also a painter and a sculptor. My world has expanded, but drawing remains the starting point for everything.
What does a typical day in your Brussels studio look like? How does an idea become a finished illustration?
There's no real "typical" day in the studio. Every day is different and depends on energy, inspiration, mood, the weather... I work a lot through feeling. For my illustrations, everything always starts on paper. I drew the idea by hand first. Then I rework the composition on a tablet to refine the shapes and find the right balance. After that comes the coloring, which is the longest step, but also the one where everything comes to life.
How do you choose your color palettes? Do you start from an emotion, an object, a specific moment?
I don't really define a color palette in advance. I try, I assemble, I compose, I overlap, I cover. It's an intuitive process. It's an intuitive process. I look for balance, and I know I've found it when I feel it physically. There's a moment when everything aligns. Color becomes a visible emotion.
Your work celebrates femininity, imagination, and the beauty of living in the present moment. Why are these themes so important to you? Has this evolved over time?
Over six years, my practice has evolved a lot, but two things have never changed: femininity and the beauty of living in the present moment. I love representing powerful, assertive, bold women. Women who take up space. For me, it's important to communicate joy through my work, and that comes through depicting lived moments.
What do you enjoy most about creating graphic, vibrant illustrations? How did you arrive at such a recognizable style?
First of all, I'm touched by the question. I think it's a small victory as an artist when people can recognize your style. What I love most is creating a world that feels good to me, something deeply personal, and then being able to share it. Making art feeds me, and if it can resonate with other people too, then the magic happens.
Is there an illustration you've created that you're particularly proud of? Or a moment when you felt you'd truly found your artistic voice?
I don't think there's one illustration I'm prouder of than another. Each one carries something different and can reach different people at different moments. However, the day I sold my first painting was a key moment. It felt like a meaningful confirmation that maybe I did have a place in the art world.
Your favorite spots in Brussels: a restaurant, a café, a shop not to miss?
I've been vegetarian for ten years, and my favorite restaurant without a doubt is Verdo, in Ixelles. They reimagine classic brasserie dishes in vegan versions. Foodie, generous, and absolutely delicious.
