I am a contemporary artist, illustrator, and packaging art director based in the Bordeaux region of France. With over 30 years of experience rooted in Parisian design studios, I specialize in translating complex brand narratives into premium, flawlessly executed visual identities. My commercial portfolio spans high-volume packaging production and global campaigns for clients including Dior, PepsiCo, Topo Chico, Magic: The Gathering, and the NFL—for whom I recently led the visual identity of the 2024 Draft in Detroit. My artistic practice is deeply influenced by Art Deco, Memphis-Milano, Bauhaus, and 1980s–1990s pop culture. Within my portfolio, I maintain two strictly distinct visual styles: Pop Art and Faux-Relief. Both are governed by a rigorous chromatic discipline, deliberately restricted to either the seven colors of the rainbow or exclusive black, gold, and ultramarine compositions. I fluidly bridge digital and traditional mediums. While I often conceptualize via Procreate on the iPad Pro, my physical works are executed on premium fine art papers using traditional tools—ranging from Caran d'Ache pencils and acrylic markers to a custom-modified tattoo machine that I engineered specifically for fine pointillism and stippling gradients. Beyond commercial design, I am deeply committed to interactive art. I currently run the "50/50" street art initiative across Libourne and Bordeaux: I hide the left half of an original artwork in the city, and when a finder discovers it, we meet in person to assemble, finalize, and hand-sign the completed piece together. Whether I am preparing complex prepress files for a global beverage brand, executing a 4-meter live mural, or archiving digital works on the Moon via the Lunaprise museum, my approach is defined by absolute technical mastery and bold aesthetic vision. I am currently available for packaging design, commercial illustration, mural commissions, and brand identity projects.

Samy Halim

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I am a contemporary artist, illustrator, and packaging art director based in the Bordeaux region of France. With over 30 years of experience rooted in Parisian design studios, I specialize in translating complex brand narratives into premium, flawlessly executed visual identities. My commercial portfolio spans high-volume packaging production and global campaigns for clients including Dior, PepsiCo, Topo Chico, Magic: The Gathering, and the NFL—for whom I recently led the visual identity of the 2024 Draft in Detroit. My artistic practice is deeply influenced by Art Deco, Memphis-Milano, Bauhaus, and 1980s–1990s pop culture. Within my portfolio, I maintain two strictly distinct visual styles: Pop Art and Faux-Relief. Both are governed by a rigorous chromatic discipline, deliberately restricted to either the seven colors of the rainbow or exclusive black, gold, and ultramarine compositions. I fluidly bridge digital and traditional mediums. While I often conceptualize via Procreate on the iPad Pro, my physical works are executed on premium fine art papers using traditional tools—ranging from Caran d'Ache pencils and acrylic markers to a custom-modified tattoo machine that I engineered specifically for fine pointillism and stippling gradients. Beyond commercial design, I am deeply committed to interactive art. I currently run the "50/50" street art initiative across Libourne and Bordeaux: I hide the left half of an original artwork in the city, and when a finder discovers it, we meet in person to assemble, finalize, and hand-sign the completed piece together. Whether I am preparing complex prepress files for a global beverage brand, executing a 4-meter live mural, or archiving digital works on the Moon via the Lunaprise museum, my approach is defined by absolute technical mastery and bold aesthetic vision. I am currently available for packaging design, commercial illustration, mural commissions, and brand identity projects.

Available to hire

I am a contemporary artist, illustrator, and packaging art director based in the Bordeaux region of France. With over 30 years of experience rooted in Parisian design studios, I specialize in translating complex brand narratives into premium, flawlessly executed visual identities. My commercial portfolio spans high-volume packaging production and global campaigns for clients including Dior, PepsiCo, Topo Chico, Magic: The Gathering, and the NFL—for whom I recently led the visual identity of the 2024 Draft in Detroit.

My artistic practice is deeply influenced by Art Deco, Memphis-Milano, Bauhaus, and 1980s–1990s pop culture. Within my portfolio, I maintain two strictly distinct visual styles: Pop Art and Faux-Relief. Both are governed by a rigorous chromatic discipline, deliberately restricted to either the seven colors of the rainbow or exclusive black, gold, and ultramarine compositions.

I fluidly bridge digital and traditional mediums. While I often conceptualize via Procreate on the iPad Pro, my physical works are executed on premium fine art papers using traditional tools—ranging from Caran d’Ache pencils and acrylic markers to a custom-modified tattoo machine that I engineered specifically for fine pointillism and stippling gradients.

Beyond commercial design, I am deeply committed to interactive art. I currently run the “50/50” street art initiative across Libourne and Bordeaux: I hide the left half of an original artwork in the city, and when a finder discovers it, we meet in person to assemble, finalize, and hand-sign the completed piece together.

Whether I am preparing complex prepress files for a global beverage brand, executing a 4-meter live mural, or archiving digital works on the Moon via the Lunaprise museum, my approach is defined by absolute technical mastery and bold aesthetic vision. I am currently available for packaging design, commercial illustration, mural commissions, and brand identity projects.

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Language

French
Fluent
English
Advanced
Arabic
Advanced

Work Experience

Illustrator and Visual Artist at Lunarprise / Lunar Art Museum
February 15, 2024 - February 22, 2024
Produced digital artworks selected for Lunarprise’s lunar art museum project. Ten works were included as part of a collection presented in connection with the project’s 2024 lunar mission and archive of digital artworks.
Illustrator and Brand Designer at Rinascente Milan
January 1, 2024 - January 1, 2025
Collaborated with TBWA Milano on major Rinascente campaigns, including the 2024 campaign and the 2025 Art Deco-inspired campaign. Developed bold pop-art and fashion-led visuals for beauty, sneakers, home, jewellery, and in-store brand storytelling across the department store environment.
Illustrator and Campaign Artist at Rinascente Milan
January 1, 2024 - January 1, 2025
Collaborated with TBWA Milano on major campaigns for Rinascente, including a bold 2024 campaign and a 2025 Art Deco-inspired campaign. Developed pop-art visual storytelling for retail environments, beauty promotions, fashion, and large-scale brand communications.
Illustrator and Creative Director at National Football League
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2024
Led the visual identity for the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit. Created 32 custom team illustrations, three mascot illustrations, and three player portraits, establishing an Art Deco and geometric visual language for event wraps, stage design, merchandise, broadcast graphics, and fan experiences.
Illustrator and Visual Identity Artist at National Football League
January 1, 2023 - January 1, 2024
Commissioned in 2023 to lead the visual identity for the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit. Created 32 custom team illustrations, three stylized mascots, and three player portraits, with artwork applied across event wraps, stage design, merchandise, environments, broadcasts, and fan experiences.
Artist and Illustrator at Samy Halim Illustration Studio
January 1, 2011 - Present
Founded a dedicated illustration studio in 2011 after 15 years as an art director in leading creative agencies. Developed a distinctive visual practice spanning commercial illustration, brand content, editorial work, packaging, murals, retail campaigns, and luxury brand imagery.
Art Director at Creative Agencies
January 1, 2011 - January 1, 2011
Spent 15 years working as an art director in leading creative agencies, building expertise in visual communication, art direction, brand storytelling, and commercial design before establishing an independent illustration studio.
Founder and Illustrator at Samy Halim Illustration Studio
January 1, 2011 - Present
Founded a dedicated illustration studio in 2011 after 15 years as an art director in leading creative agencies. Develops visual identities, illustrations, portraits, packaging, editorial artwork, murals, campaigns, and brand content for international clients.
Illustrator, Painter at Samy Halim
April 6, 2006 - Present
Illustrator and painter with two styles: Pop, geometric polychromatic portraits, and Faux-Relief, flat works that create an illusion of depth. Also creating murals. Clients include NFL, PepsiCo, Dior and Wizards of the Coast. Open to illustration, editorial, mural and brand collaborations.

Education

Diploma of Higher Artistic Studies at Ecole supérieure des beaux-arts d’Alger
September 20, 1993 - July 1, 1994
Fine Arts at Fine Arts School of Algiers
January 11, 2030 - September 20, 2026
Fine Arts at Fine Arts School of Algiers
January 11, 2030 - September 20, 2026

Qualifications

Pentawards Winner
January 1, 2017 - September 20, 2026
Pentawards Winner
January 1, 2019 - September 20, 2026
Artist of the Year, Stroke Art Fair
January 1, 2022 - September 20, 2026
Pentawards Gold Award for Packaging Design
January 1, 2017 - September 20, 2026
Pentawards Gold Award
January 1, 2017 - September 20, 2026
Pentawards Silver Award
January 1, 2019 - September 20, 2026
Artist of the Year, Stroke Art Fair
January 1, 2022 - September 20, 2026

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Consumer Goods, Retail, Travel & Hospitality, Professional Services
    Rinascente Store Campaign 2025

    I had the privilege of creating 14 bespoke key visuals for the 2024 campaign of a prestigious high-end store in Milan. Each illustration was crafted with meticulous attention to detail, designed to perfectly capture the essence of each department.

    I was selected for this project due to my distinct pop art/art deco style, which fuses the elegance of Art Deco with restricted color range, bold shapes, and dynamic textures inspired by the 20s and 30s. These visuals bring a modern yet nostalgic energy, creating a fresh and captivating aesthetic for the campaign.

    The CEO of the store was so pleased with the success of the 2024 compaign that he has renewed our collaboration for the 2025 campaign.

    Maison Dior Collaboration: J'adore Faux-Relief Pattern

    In this commission for Maison Dior’s iconic J’adore line, I applied my signature Faux-Relief technique to craft a bespoke botanical universe. The objective was to translate the fragrance’s floral notes into a highly tactile visual experience. By utilizing precise optical shading, I designed a floral pattern that mimics the depth, shadow, and weight of physical sculpture on a completely flat plane. This Faux-Relief artwork serves as the visual anchor for the campaign’s physical touchpoints, meticulously scaled to wrap luxury gift boxes, brand packaging, and large architectural wall installations in Dior retail spaces worldwide.

    Alba: Scaling Up at Piscine Club 2026

    Painting Alba was an exercise in scaling my Pop Art vision to architectural proportions. Measuring 2.35x4.30m, this mural was created for a film studio space near Bordeaux, demanding an image with immediate, undeniable presence. I stripped the palette back to its most powerful elements—ultramarine blue, gold, and black—to create maximum optical impact. The challenge of working at this scale is maintaining the intimacy of the portrait; I focused heavily on the volumetric shading of her face to ensure her gaze remained magnetic, while allowing the graphic, color-blocked background and silhouette to anchor her massive scale within the room.

    NFL Draft 2024

    I had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with the NFL for their Detroit Draft Campaign this year, where I created 35 vibrant illustrations, including three generic player designs and 32 unique mascots representing each team. Each character was meticulously crafted to reflect the spirit of the team, brought to life with my signature pop art style—bursting with bold colors, dynamic shapes, rich textures, and intricate patterns. These illustrations are designed to stand out, adding a fresh and eye-catching twist to football culture.