Agency Spotlight: MIA Milan Illustrations Agency

Since the 1980s, the highly-regarded MIA Milan Illustrations Agency has represented many of the best illustrators worldwide under the expert leadership of Shefalika Marescotti (she’s celebrating her 20th anniversary as the owner of MIA this year!). Specializing in children’s illustrations, MIA’s reach extends far beyond the Italian market; their client base now also includes countries including India, Dubai, New Zealand and many more. The majority of their clients have been with MIA long-term—the agency’s adept ability to provided personalized service, follow their artists’ work closely and meet critical deadlines keeps their clients coming back year after year.

21 very talented artists represented by MIA Illustrations are part of the Directory of Illustration, and we’d like to highlight a few below. Click on each artist’s name and their illustrations below to view their portfolios!

Simona Bursi
Simona Bursi has worked as a character designer, storyboard artist and animation artist, and has even designed scenography for children’s video musicals. Currently based in Fano, Italy, Simona now illustrates for a large number of Italian and foreign publishing houses. She recently completed the illustrations for Usborne Publishing’s “Complete Jane Austen,” a collection of Jane Austen’s novels retold for young readers (learn more about the project here).

Fabiano Fiorin
Venetian illustrator Fabiano Fiorin began his career as a comic book designer, eventually progressing to illustrating children’s books. Fabiano is highly regarded in the children’s illustration industry, and his work has been selected at various International Children’s Illustration Contests. He currently works with major international publishers while providing creative direction for several companies and advertising agencies.

Manola Caprini
Italian-born Manola Caprini began her career collaborating with several Italian publishers. In recent years, she has been working as a freelance illustrator in her home studio. Her playful digital illustrations are perfect for young children’s illustration assignments, and her work has been published in several children’s books in France, England, Italy, Canada and Belgium.

Angelo Ruta
Angelo Ruta is an Italian illustrator, scenographer, scriptwriter and director currently living in Milan. His poetic, timeless illustrations have attracted many noteworthy Italian and British publishers, including “La Lettura” of Il Corriere della Sera, with whom he constantly collaborates with. In addition to his book illustrations, Angelo has also created movies and shows.

MIA Milan Illustrations Agency will be attending the international 2019 Bologna Children’s Book Fair, which takes place April 1-4. This event invites the world’s top professionals in the children’s books industry to meet some of the most distinguished children’s illustrators and to discover the latest market trends in the book industry. MIA Agency will be located in Hall 25 at stand B50—be sure to stop by and say hello!

In addition to the four illustrators listed above, two other MIA Agency/Directory of Illustration artists—Matteo Pincelli and Stefano Tognetti—will also be presented at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair. Check out some of their work below!