Mohammed Sajid is turning heads with his illustration series, Folks of Kerala, capturing everyday life in his home state. Nominated for AOI World Illustration Awards 2026, series features portraits of familiar faces like flower vendors,fish sellers,postmen. Each depicted with own story.
Through art,Sajid aims to shine light on those often overlooked in cities. Subjects shown with tools and symbols of their trades,inviting viewers to engage. “I grew up knowing everything about neighbors,” Sajid says,moving to Bengaluru only intensified his longing for connections left behind in Kozhikode.
After his degree in Design and Applied Arts from Thiruvananthapuram in 2015,Sajid's city life sparked deeper appreciation for people once taken for granted. His earlier works,starting in 2018,drew from Indian folk aesthetics but left him drained. “I stopped due to fatigue,” he says. Latest series adopts more layered approach with vibrant colors and detailed backgrounds.
New portraits show shift toward realism,focus on dusky skin tones,expressive features. Sajid's style now nods to pop art with bold typography,intricate designs. “Lines and dots added to challenge AI to replicate my work,” he explains. For him,AI in art? Unacceptable . These marks are testament to his training.
Beyond personal projects,Sajid's done high-profile illustrations,like Google doodle for actress Madhubala's 84th birthday. His reimagined CMYK palette echoed style of classic Mughal-e-Azam (1960).
Remembering his artistic roots,Sajid recalls Kerala's festivals bursting with color,creativity. His mother,who sketched portraits despite societal norms,deeply influenced his early art. “I remember coloring with her,” he shares,mural she painted in his third-grade classroom vivid in memory.
Despite growing acclaim,Sajid not rushing to expand Folks of Kerala. Focuses on creating art that resonates with him. “I made these to break daily monotony. I won’t force it,” he says. His works? On Instagram,@muhammedsajid.n,where he shares journey…
