The journey that began with curiosity.
That mix of humor, pop aesthetics and photographic realism felt fun. Those early images — a bear in a skull sweater, a fox in a suit — went viral fast. It was a sudden explosion, within days the series appeared on blogs, social networks and art and design media around the world. I remember waking up one morning to countless emails from brands, media and people from everywhere. That was how it all began.
§ 14.1The viral spark and the growth alongside Isabelle.
After that initial explosion, I realized there was something deeper than just "funny animal portraits" — and, at the same time, an enormous amount of work to manage. I met Isabelle, who would become my brand manager, and together with several collaborators we started shaping a long-term project. Zoo Portraits stopped being "a handful of curious photos" and became a hybrid of wildlife conservation and a very distinctive aesthetic.
Our website evolved into a genuine animal encyclopaedia; each image was accompanied by information about the species habitat, diet and threats. This created a special connection: on one hand, people enjoyed close, relatable portraits; on the other, they discovered real, educational and accessible facts about global biodiversity.
Meanwhile, our income came mainly from art sales, licenses and external collaborations: phone cases, calendars, marketing campaigns, fashion lines. It was fascinating to see those images transform into objects people carried with them or into high-impact advertisements. Even so, we preserved the same visual style: frontal, passport-style portraits on a distinctive gray-teal background, letting each species personality shine through.
§ 14.2Why it captivated people.
- 01
The wild meets the playful. Dressing a tiger in a bomber jacket or a deer in a suit was not entirely new, but the photorealistic approach was. That contrast brought humor, tenderness and trend.
- 02
A unique aesthetic signature. Uniform background, frontal symmetric framing and careful lighting: you could recognize a Zoo Portraits piece at a glance.
- 03
Animal personality. Beyond the clothing, each portrait had a "human" nuance that generated instant empathy. Many people told me: "That dog looks like me," or "That owl is my best friend."
- 04
Educational depth. From the beginning we wanted to go beyond the visual. We added scientific data, threats and species information to subtly foster environmental awareness.
§ 14.3Exhibitions and international recognition.
As the project grew, invitations to galleries and museums arrived. One of the most exciting milestones was presenting Zoo Portraits at the UltraSuperNew Gallery in Tokyo, in collaboration with Subject Matter. I met people there who are still friends today. Later we reached spaces like the Chimei Museum in Taiwan, a prestigious institution that unites art and natural history — a perfect combination for our message.
The press and digital media backed the series quickly, highlighting not only its playful side but also the conservation background. At the same time, schools started using my portraits as a pedagogical hook to work on animal topics. It was surreal to see my images reproduced in primary school activities or to receive emails from teachers sharing projects inspired by Zoo Portraits.
§ 14.4Campaigns for global brands.
Brands and agencies began to contact us, intrigued by this distinctive way of communicating. With the government of Queensland, Australia and their tourism department we developed a campaign promoting sustainable tourism with portraits of Australian wildlife: a traveling exhibition with regional media impact. Apple included one of my portraits in their global iOS 10 advertisement, amplifying the project reach. Adobe commissioned three lion versions for their "Be a Lion" campaign at Cannes Lions, highlighting the creative and boundary-pushing character of the work. And The Body Shop entrusted me with the complete "Go Wild" campaign of 2016 — posters, packaging and retail — in line with their motto "Forever Against Animal Testing."
The iconic boutique Colette in Paris not only sold a fashion line inspired by my characters (with Saint Noir), but also decorated part of its restaurant with murals and vinyl prints of my portraits. Seeing people dining surrounded by my "creatures" was incredible.
§ 14.5What the press said.
01Each animal feels like an individual with its own personality and style.
My Modern Met
02These representations are not just entertaining; they also foster a deeper connection with animals.
Trend Hunter
03Zoo Portraits' striking images raise awareness about wildlife conservation through art.
Feel Desain
04From the Amur leopard to the plains zebra, Zoo Portraits invites us to reflect on wildlife protection.
teNeues
Its impact on platforms like Bored Panda, AnOther Magazine and CBS , together with editorial collaborations with ACC Art Books and Libros del Zorro Rojo, reinforced international visibility and the public's affection for each new series.
§ 14.6Towards print and brand consolidation.
We published a book with the prestigious teNeues, later edited in Spanish by Libros del Zorro Rojo as Retratos Animales. It was special to see the work in large format, with scientific explanations and environmental reflections. The book became a physical testament to the Zoo Portraits journey.
In parallel, Isabelle and I professionalised every aspect, we refined the brand, expanded the website to hundreds of species and established partnerships that reinforced the educational mission. The focus shifted increasingly towards awareness, without losing the playful spirit.
§ 14.7From Zoo Portraits to Animal Kinhood.
Over the years I understood that Zoo Portraits needed more than continuity, it needed evolution. That is how Animal Kinhood was born. It is not a clean slate; it is the same language — frontal portrait, symmetry, clean background and that collision between the wild and the human — but with a second life for the characters. I have revised the design and coherence of the series, refining expressions, wardrobe and presence so that each anthropomorphic animal portrait feels more alive, more intentional and more recognizable.
The name change came with a complete rebranding and a real improvement in the buying experience. Today, the printed editions are thought out with more precision: art prints on cotton paper, archival inks and a more demanding quality control. I have also better organized the collection between open edition and numbered limited edition, so you can quickly understand what you are choosing and why.
For me, Animal Kinhood is the most honest way to keep telling the same story with more clarity: characters that look at you as if they knew you, humor that does not hide the fragility, and an aesthetic that stands on its own. If Zoo Portraits was the origin, Animal Kinhood is the current chapter: a renewed series, more refined visually and more solid in its printed editions.
Every portrait is a bridge between humor and empathy, between art and advocacy, between laughter and environmental awareness. Zoo Portraits gained global momentum thanks to your support and curiosity. And although today we move forward as Animal Kinhood, the original spirit remains here, sustaining the same purpose: using art to bring us closer to each animal and remind us that we share the same home.
Welcome to this realm of impossible outfits and wild gazes. If you want to know more or discover new series, I would love for you to join. Because this story — like biodiversity — deserves to keep growing.
§ 14.8The archive.
A decade of projects, products and collaborations. 170 pieces selected from the historical archive: prints, products, press, installations, fashion, books.
170 pieces · historical archive 2013 – 2022 · selected for this page.
Explore Animal Kinhood.
Browse the full collection of characters, limited editions and art prints.
See the collection