Yay Abe is an award-winning name in the illustration community. Ranking top 3 illustrators on the Loeries Middle East and Africa list in 2019. Russell has worked with brands and companies such as Woolworths, Adidas, Bombay Sapphire, United Nations, Airbnb, Apple Music and most recently H&M to name a few. This creative talent was born and bred in Cape Town. A graphic design graduate from CPUT (Cape Peninsula University of Technology) and a participant in the 2014 Design Indaba Emerging Creatives Programme, Abrahams is intent on conveying narratives and messages through his illustrations and mural art. His work is inspired by a mélange of local people and cultures, characterised by bold colour, a unique graphic style and playful nature.
Abrahams is known to work in a very local style with vibrant colours. It stems from the society in which he lives. His work reflects his surroundings and the pulse of the nation. He is intent on telling interesting and vibrant stories – narratives with depth. Most known for his flowing bold lines and pops of bold colours, Yay Abe’s work is easily recognisable.
We had a virtual chat with Russell Abrahams aka Yay Abe about his upcoming print collaboration with H&M South Africa.
