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Clever Illustrations Unmask the "True" Identities of Pop Culture Icons

In his amusing series titled Icons Unmasked, Chicago-based illustrator Alex Solis reveals the surprising identities of famous characters in pop culture. These cartoon-style portraits feature a series of costumed figures who unmask themselves, exposing who really lurks beneath the facade. The alter ego is often an unexpected character, as the two don't exist in the same universe: Tweety Bird is actually Big Bird; Grumpy Cat is Garfield; and Peter Griffin is a donut-obsessed Homer Simpson.

Though these mashups might seem unusual, each one is a clever pairing, playing on specific, shared aspects between the characters. The costume and its wearer relate to each other in a deeper, more meaningful way–they all have a similar trait. Some share the same name, others a personality quirk, and a few are the same species. Now that you've seen who these characters really are, it's time to imagine them in a whole new light.

Alex Solis: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Society6
via [This Isn't Happiness]

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met and Manager of My Modern Met Store. She is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned her BFA in Illustration and MFA in Illustration Practice. Sara is also an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio where she stitches pet portraits and other beloved creatures. She chronicles the creativity of others through her website Brown Paper Bag and newsletter, Orts. Her latest book is Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread, published in 2014. Sara’s work has been recognized in Be Creative With Workbox, Embroidery Magazine, American Illustration, on Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic, among others. When she’s not stitching or writing, Sara enjoys planning things that bring together the craft community. She is the co-founder of Camp Craftaway, a day camp for crafty adults with hands-on workshops in the Seattle area.
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