Story & Lesson Highlights with Zé Otavio of Olimpia, Brazil

Zé Otavio shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Zé , thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
After 24 years immersed in design, art, and drawing, collage.., I often find myself losing track of time while sketching someone who captures my attention or someone whose beauty and attitude I’ve fallen in love with. Maybe it’s a simple picture of someone I saw on Instagram or a Greek sculpture. As for the Greek references, since 2023 I’ve been really into the mythology of Cupid, Psyche, Aphrodite, and Venus. That world has been inspiring me the most lately, there are so many analogies and metaphors from that era that resonate with me on a daily basis.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I currently live and work in Olímpia, São Paulo, Brazil. I hold a degree in Graphic Design from Belas Artes de São Paulo. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with clients both in Brazil and abroad, including Lollapalooza Festival, SESC, Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Cunard Line, Folha de S.Paulo, The Washington Post, Banco do Brasil, VOGUE, ELLE, and several other fashion magazines.

My work has been exhibited in Colombia, Argentina, England, Germany, Spain, Poland, and China. I’ve also been featured in several illustration catalogues published by TASCHEN, one of the world’s leading art publishers — including Illustration Now! Fashion, where I was one of only four Brazilian artists selected for the international collection of fashion illustrators.

In 2024, I took part in the group exhibition “Pajubá: a hora e a vez do close”, which marked the reopening of the Museu da Diversidade Sexual (Museum of Sexual Diversity) in São Paulo.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
The first moment that always comes to my mind is the day I went to São Paulo for the first time, the largest city in Latin America. I was 11 years old, and it was the first time I saw real street art everywhere. That chaotic energy, mixed with all those beautiful humans who seemed to come from all over the world and even other planets.. completely blew my mind.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
This isn’t an easy subject to talk about, but I feel that the few times I wanted to give up (it was actually twice) ended up making me more inspired and more certain about my work, you know? I remember that the last time this happened, I came back genuinely enjoying what I was doing and feeling happy about my accomplishments.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. How do you differentiate between fads and real foundational shifts?
For me, the difference becomes clear through practice. I’ve always stayed very close to my own way of working , my expression, my vision, even when someone is art directing me. I’ve never really chased trends. In Brazil, especially in advertising, I’ve seen so many visual tendencies come and go. And today, it feels like almost everything in communication is reduced to one or two looks that people label as “the trend.”

But I’ve learned that a fad is something I simply can’t follow, partly because it’s not what I naturally do, and mostly because it doesn’t feel honest to me. A true foundational shift, on the other hand, is something that still allows me to work in my own voice. It expands what’s possible without asking me to abandon who I am as an artist. If a change makes my work feel more meaningful or gives me new tools to express myself, then I know it’s real. If it only asks me to imitate what’s popular for a moment, then it’s just a fad.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
Social media! It’s killing my time, my inspiration, and even my optimistic way of looking at life and my work. I say this half as a joke, but deep down I really wish I didn’t depend on social media as much as I do, you know? It’s tricky, because I feel that the people who genuinely support and appreciate my work aren’t that active on social media anyway or I already knew them from before all this fuss around it even started.

so go outside kids! Smell the roses and get you hands dirty with like and inspiration as much as you can!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://zeotavio.com
• Instagram: zehotavio
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/z%C3%A9-otavio-39073423/