Not everything needs permission to exist – Oliver Reyes’ work proves that. A Uruguayan-Chilean (Mapuche) illustrator and designer, his practice carries urgency, colour and a clear point of view, translating lived experience into visuals that don’t wait to be understood.

Based on Gadigal Country, Sydney, his work spans editorial, design, and grassroots community projects, yet resists being boxed into one lane. There’s a boldness to it – not just in palette, but in intent. Genderqueer narratives, migrant histories and First Nations solidarity aren’t treated as themes to visit, but as the foundation itself.

Raised across Western Sydney and shaped by a life lived between cultures, Oliver understands visual storytelling as something communal, not elite. His work carries the influence of South American street culture – expressive, political, unafraid – alongside the energy of local creative scenes that thrive despite limited access. It’s less about polish, more about presence.

That thinking extends beyond the work itself. Through projects like SPEAKINGTRUTH, led by collaborator Phoebe McIlwraith, Oliver supports pathways connecting multilingual communities with First Nations justice conversations through design. In an industry that still leans conservative in what it platforms, his practice pushes forward – louder, brighter and far more reflective of the world it claims to represent.