Gaia Stella is an award-winning artist based in Milan, Italy. She is the author and illustrator of several books including Tadao Ando: C’est toi l’architecte (hélium 2021, in collaboration with the Pinault Collection Bourse de Commerce) and If I were A Fungus, which has been translated into six countries so far.
She has done editorial illustrations for clients such as The New Yorker, The New York Times, Vogue Bambini, and The Boston Globe.
In 2025 she received a Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators of New York in the Surface/Product Design category for her illustrations from the book Bibi Makes Sandwiches which inspired a collection with Kitty Bunny Pony.
Gaia’s colorful and geometric imagery is inspired by a variety of sources, such as brutalist architecture, 80s toys, books by Tove Jansson, and the packaging of Asian food.
Instagram
info@gaiastella.com
phone +39 349 8427654
She has done editorial illustrations for clients such as The New Yorker, The New York Times, Vogue Bambini, and The Boston Globe.
In 2025 she received a Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators of New York in the Surface/Product Design category for her illustrations from the book Bibi Makes Sandwiches which inspired a collection with Kitty Bunny Pony.
Gaia’s colorful and geometric imagery is inspired by a variety of sources, such as brutalist architecture, 80s toys, books by Tove Jansson, and the packaging of Asian food.
info@gaiastella.com
phone +39 349 8427654
Prizes
2024 Gold Medal, Society of Illustrators 66, NY
2022 American Illustration 41, NY
2020 American Illustration 39, NY
2019 Selected at Nami Island International Picture Book Illustration Concours, Korea.
2019 Bologna Children Bookfair Show and Catalogue
2018 American Illustration 37, NY
2018 Selected at Society of Illustrators, NY
2017 Shortlist to the World Illustration Award - The AOI
2017 Bologna Children Bookfair Show and Catalogue
2015 Honorable Mention 3x3 Illustration Annual No. 12
2014 Selected at Ilustrarte, Lisboa (Portugal)
2024 Gold Medal, Society of Illustrators 66, NY
2022 American Illustration 41, NY
2020 American Illustration 39, NY
2019 Selected at Nami Island International Picture Book Illustration Concours, Korea.
2019 Bologna Children Bookfair Show and Catalogue
2018 American Illustration 37, NY
2018 Selected at Society of Illustrators, NY
2017 Shortlist to the World Illustration Award - The AOI
2017 Bologna Children Bookfair Show and Catalogue
2015 Honorable Mention 3x3 Illustration Annual No. 12
2014 Selected at Ilustrarte, Lisboa (Portugal)
Exhibitions
2019 Nami Concours, Korea.
2019 Bologna Children Bookfair
2018 Society of Illustrators - 60 Exhibit, NY
2017 Bologna Children Bookfair
2015 Pranzo Improvvisato - Triennale di Milano - Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Tokyo
2015 Les objets ordinaires de Gaia Stella, La manufacture parisienne, Parigi
2014 Ilustrarte 2014 - Museu de Electricidade, Lisboa (Portugal)
2014 Cosa ci sta [dentro a b**k] mostra di Gaia Stella, Spazio b**k, Milano
2013 Never Judge A Book By Its Cover, Galleria Effearte, Milano
2013 "Cosa ci sta in 21 x 28 cm?" - Apriti Cielo!, Milano
2010-2011 mostra personale itinerante - Sistema Bibliotecario Milano Est
2010 esposizione itinerante Illustratori italiani - Annual
2019 Nami Concours, Korea.
2019 Bologna Children Bookfair
2018 Society of Illustrators - 60 Exhibit, NY
2017 Bologna Children Bookfair
2015 Pranzo Improvvisato - Triennale di Milano - Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Tokyo
2015 Les objets ordinaires de Gaia Stella, La manufacture parisienne, Parigi
2014 Ilustrarte 2014 - Museu de Electricidade, Lisboa (Portugal)
2014 Cosa ci sta [dentro a b**k] mostra di Gaia Stella, Spazio b**k, Milano
2013 Never Judge A Book By Its Cover, Galleria Effearte, Milano
2013 "Cosa ci sta in 21 x 28 cm?" - Apriti Cielo!, Milano
2010-2011 mostra personale itinerante - Sistema Bibliotecario Milano Est
2010 esposizione itinerante Illustratori italiani - Annual
Bibliography
• Slurp, 2024
• If I Were A Fungus, 2024
• C’est Toi L’architecte, Hélium in collaboration with Bourse de Commerce Collection Pinault, 2021.
• Gianni Rodari, Bambini e bambole, Emme Edizioni, 2019.
• Mes Petites Formes a Compter, De La Martinière Jeunesse, 2019.
• La Meilleure Façon De Marcher?, text by Anna Castagnoli, Éditions Grasset Jeunesse, 2019.
• Le Grand Orchestre, written by Caroline Laffon, De La Martinière Jeunesse, 2018.
• Mes Endroits à Moi, Éditions Grasset Jeunesse, 2017.
• Au Marché, Je Choisis..., Hélium, 2017.
• María José Ferrada, Il Segreto Delle Cose, Topipittori, 2017.
• Giuseppe Caliceti, In Ogni Pinocchio, Topipittori, 2016.
• Anna Cerasoli, Matematica Amica, Feltrinelli, 2016.
• AAVV, Favoloso Natale, Emme Edizioni, 2016.
• Toutes Les Choses Avec Lesquelles…, Helium, 2015.
• Roberto Piumini, Non Piangere Cipolla, Mondadori, 2015.
• AAVV, Che notte è Questa!, Edizioni EL, 2014.
• Et Toi, Où Habites-tu?, Joie de lire, 2014.
• Anna Cerasoli, Matemago, Feltrinelli, 2014.
• Chez Nous, Editions Amaterra, 2014.
• Marina Morpurgo, Vita Da Cani, Feltrinelli, 2013.
• Quante Facce!, Emme edizioni, 2013.
• Cosa Ci Sta In Ventuno Per Ventotto Centimetri (21x28 cm)?, La margherita edizioni, 2013.
• Italo Calvino, Fiabe Di Animali Magici, Mondadori, 2013.
• Ti Tengo, Save the children, 2011.
• Slurp, 2024
• If I Were A Fungus, 2024
• C’est Toi L’architecte, Hélium in collaboration with Bourse de Commerce Collection Pinault, 2021.
• Gianni Rodari, Bambini e bambole, Emme Edizioni, 2019.
• Mes Petites Formes a Compter, De La Martinière Jeunesse, 2019.
• La Meilleure Façon De Marcher?, text by Anna Castagnoli, Éditions Grasset Jeunesse, 2019.
• Le Grand Orchestre, written by Caroline Laffon, De La Martinière Jeunesse, 2018.
• Mes Endroits à Moi, Éditions Grasset Jeunesse, 2017.
• Au Marché, Je Choisis..., Hélium, 2017.
• María José Ferrada, Il Segreto Delle Cose, Topipittori, 2017.
• Giuseppe Caliceti, In Ogni Pinocchio, Topipittori, 2016.
• Anna Cerasoli, Matematica Amica, Feltrinelli, 2016.
• AAVV, Favoloso Natale, Emme Edizioni, 2016.
• Toutes Les Choses Avec Lesquelles…, Helium, 2015.
• Roberto Piumini, Non Piangere Cipolla, Mondadori, 2015.
• AAVV, Che notte è Questa!, Edizioni EL, 2014.
• Et Toi, Où Habites-tu?, Joie de lire, 2014.
• Anna Cerasoli, Matemago, Feltrinelli, 2014.
• Chez Nous, Editions Amaterra, 2014.
• Marina Morpurgo, Vita Da Cani, Feltrinelli, 2013.
• Quante Facce!, Emme edizioni, 2013.
• Cosa Ci Sta In Ventuno Per Ventotto Centimetri (21x28 cm)?, La margherita edizioni, 2013.
• Italo Calvino, Fiabe Di Animali Magici, Mondadori, 2013.
• Ti Tengo, Save the children, 2011.