Roger Olmos


Roger Olmos Pastor is a Spanish illustrator. He is known for his work in children's literature, animal rights advocacy, and vegan advocacy. He has illustrated more than eighty books for Spanish and international publishers, and is noted for his collaborations on projects promoting animal rights, veganism, and ethical awareness.

Early life and education

Olmos was born in Barcelona and developed an early interest in illustration, spending time in his father's home studio where he observed him drawing and painting. He was influenced by artists such as Brad Holland, Caza, and Brian Froud.
From 1995 to 2000, he studied at the Llotja Avinyò School of Arts and Crafts in Barcelona. Following this, he undertook a six-year apprenticeship as a scientific illustrator at the Dexeus Clinic in Barcelona, where he gained experience with textures and anatomical illustration.

Career

In 1999, Olmos met his first publisher, Kalandraka, at the Bologna Children's Book Fair, and published his first book, Tío Lobo, with them the following year.
Since then, he has illustrated more than eighty books for a wide range of Spanish and international publishers, including Edelvives, Penguin Random House, Macmillan, Kalandraka, Oqo Editora, Ediciones B, La Galera, Teide, Anaya, Edebé, Planeta, Baula, #logosedizioni, Melhoramentos, Bromera, Editions 62, and Pirouette.
In addition to book illustration, Olmos has collaborated with advertising agencies, illustration schools, and television channels.

Animal advocacy

Olmos is a vegan and an animal rights advocate. He collaborates with FAADA, a Barcelona-based animal protection organisation. This collaboration led to the publication of two books with the Italian publisher #logosedizioni: Sinpalabras / Senzaparole and Amigos.
Sinpalabras received praise from figures such as Jane Goodall and J. M. Coetzee. Olmos described the book as "one of the most important and personal" of his career.

Prizes and awards

  • 1999, 2002 and 2005: selected for the Illustrator's Exhibition at the Bologna Children's Book Fair
  • 2002: White Ravens Selection by the International Youth Library
  • 2004: White Ravens Selection by the International Youth Library
  • 2006: White Ravens Special Mention
  • 2006: Premio Llibreter de Álbum Ilustrado
  • 2008: Premio Lazarillo de Álbum Ilustrado
  • 2013: Premio Hospital Sant Joan de Déu
  • 2014: Best illustrated book for children, by the Spanish Ministry of Culture
  • 2015: Best illustrated book for children, by the Spanish Ministry of Culture
  • 2015: Premio 400Colpi, Torredilibri
  • 2017: Selected as one of the most representative illustrators in Catalonia, Guest of Honour at the Bologna Children's Book Fair 2017 together with the Balearic Islands

    Solo exhibitions (selection)

  • 2014 Pequeños catálogo de instantes de felicidad – Barberà del Vallès
  • 2014 Senzaparole – Biblioteca Delfini, Modena
  • 2014 Sinpalabras – Panta Rhei, Madrid
  • 2015 Sinpalabras – AnimaNaturalis, Barcelona
  • 2015, Roger Olmos. Illustrator – Kinderboekenmarkt, Den Haag
  • 2016 Cosimo. Open air exhibition – via dell’Indipendenza and via San Giuseppe, Bologna
  • 2016 Cosimo. Original artworks exhibition – Family Palace, Lucca Comics & Games, Lucca, Italy
  • 2017 Amigos. Open air exhibition – via dell’Abbadia, Bologna
  • 2017 Cosimo – Mirabilia Art Gallery, Bologna, Italy
  • 2018 Lucia. Open air exhibition – via dell’Indipendenza, Bologna
  • 2018 Lucia ''– Mirabilia Art Gallery, Bologna
  • 2018 Lucia – Premio letterario Giuseppe Dessì, Ex Mulino Cadoni, Villacidro
  • 2019 Un poquito de media vida – LAVA, Valladolid
  • 2019 Ilustrando la mala suerte – Fundación BilbaoArte, Bilbao
  • 2021 Roger Olmos: Amici per la pelle. Open air exhibition –'' via dell’Indipendenza, Bologna
  • 2023 Cosimo. Original artworks exhibition – Biblioteca Paolo Borsellino, Como
  • 2023 Roger Olmos: La forza dei forti – Modo Infoshop, Bologna

    Group exhibitions (selection)

  • 2000 Bären – Internationale Jugendbibliothek, Munich
  • 2014 Latin Beat Film Festival – T-Site Daikanyama, Tokyo, with Ana Juan and Alejandro Magallanes
  • 2015 Imaginarius – Las Naves, Valencia, with Elena Odriozola and Julio Antonio Blasco
  • 2017 Vidas ilustradas – València Capital Animal, Centre del Carme Cultura Contemporània, Valencia
  • 2018 Los ilustrados de Ornamante – Ornamante Lab-Shop, Barcelona
  • 2019 Milagros. Instituto Cervantes – Rome, with Ana Juan
  • 2019 Milagros. Instituto Cervantes – Naples, with Ana Juan
  • 2019 Almost Tales – Afnakafna palestra d’arte, Roma
  • 2020 Tres tristes tigres – Galería Espacio 0, Huelva
  • 2021 Roger Olmos: Amici per la pelle. Open air exhibition – via dell’Indipendenza, Bologna
  • 2023 Roger Olmos: La forza dei forti – Modo Infoshop, Bologna

    Book covers

  • 2007, Cuentos clásicos I, VV. AA., Pirueta, Spain
  • 2007, Cuentos clásicos II, VV.AA., Pirueta, Spain
  • 2008, Cuentos clásicos III, VV. AA., Pirueta, Spain
  • 2008, Cuentos clásicos IV, VV. AA., Pirueta, Spain
  • 2008, Minotauro. La batalla del laberinto, by Gabriel García de Oro, Ediciones B, Spain
  • 2009, Cuentos clásicos V, VV. AA., Pirueta, Spain
  • 2009, Minotauro. La torre del tiempo, by Gabriel García de Oro, Ediciones B, Spain
  • 2009, La última bruja de Trasmoz, by Cesar Fernandez García, la Galera, Spain
  • 2010, Haroun i el mar de les histories, by Salman Rushdie, Edicions Bromera, Spain
  • 2010, Luka i el foc de la vida, by Salman Rushdie, Edicions Bromera, Spain
  • 2010, Luzazul, by Carmen Fernández Villalba, la Galera, Spain
  • 2010, Cuentos clásicos VI, VV. AA., Pirueta, Spain
  • 2012, Parque muerte, by Fernando Lalana, Edebé, Spain
  • 2014, Cuentos clásicos de la literatura española, AA. VV., Edelvives, Spain
  • 2015, El universo para Ulises, by Juan Carlos Ortega, Planeta, Spain

    CD covers

  • 2006, Facto Delafé y las Flores Azules versus el monstruo de las Ramblas, by Facto Delafé y las Flores Azules,
  • 2007, En la luz de la mañana, by Facto Delafé y las Flores Azules
  • 2008, True Love, Là Par Force
  • 2011, Love Battle, CatPeople