The Colors Of Noma Bar

The simple, strong palettes of negative space virtuoso Noma Bar.

This selection of work is from his two books, Guess Who? The Many Faces of Norma Bar & Negative Space, both are published by Mark Batty Publisher and are available for purchase on the publisher's website.

Negative Space

An artist using “negative space” relies on the space that surrounds the subject to provide shape and meaning. Of course, the term also refers to any topic that conjures feelings of unease and discomfort. Furthering the partnership begun with the publication of Guess Who? internationally acclaimed illustrator Noma Bar has compiled his newest collection of work, Negative Space. Including works commissioned by such prestigious publications as The Economist, Esquire, Wallpaper, The Guardian and Time Out London, as well as never before seen illustrations, in this book Bar focuses on subject matter ranging from sex, global warming and nuclear warfare to religion, crime and corporate greed.

With Negative Space, Noma Bar solidifies his reputation as an artist able to convert complex topics into clean, provocative and revealing lines that viewers take in with ease, though they are not easily forgotten.

Guess Who? The Many Faces of Norma Bar

It requires skilled eyes and hands for artists to render subjects by translating their personalities, physical traits and careers into a few well-executed lines. Having worked for such publications as The New York Times, Esquire, The Guardian and Time Out London, Noma Bar is one artist capable of such visual feats. From famous celebrities like Steven Spielberg to infamous ones like Michael Jackson, to cultural icons like Albert Einstein and Elvis, to political figures like George Bush and Sadaam Hussein, Bar has made a career of creating caricatures through illustrations that rely on the power of association, and sometimes a bit of imagination.

Stephen King has hatchet eyes; broken chains accent Nelson Mandela’s facial expression; Joseph Stalin’s nose and mouth are shaped like the hammer and sickle. All of Bar’s faces exude the power of the visual, in that we recognize his subjects by what they do.

Steven Heller’s introduction examines Bar’s work by placing it in the history of caricature, pinpointing the clear influences but also acknowledging it as something wholly unique in its approach to this art form with a long and distinguished lineage. Informative and playful captions accompany every illustration, providing insight into Bar’s process.

A true cross-over book, Guess Who? The Many Faces of Noma Bar will appeal to graphic designers and pop-culture fans alike.

Born in Israel in 1973, Noma Bar studied graphic design and typography at the Jerusalem Academy of Art & Design. He has been based in London since 2001. In 2003, Bar received his first national magazine commission from Time Out London, and since then he has worked for an array of media clients, including the BBC, Random House, The Observer, The Economist and Wallpaper.