Capturing the Essence of Brazil: A Conversation with Estela Carregalo on the São Paulo E-Prix Poster 

In anticipation of the São Paulo E-Prix, Andretti Formula E revealed the captivating race poster created by the talented Estela Carregalo on Monday. Born and raised in the vibrant city of São Paulo, Estela’s love for vibrant colors and botanical themes inspired her design of the team’s original race poster, a visual ode to her beloved city. As Brazil prepares to host its second-ever E-Prix, following its successful debut in Season 9, Estela’s artwork captures the essence of this bustling metropolis, inviting viewers to immerse themselves in its energy and charm. Join us as we delve into Estela’s creative process, her inspirations drawn from São Paulo’s rich cultural history and the significance of her artwork in celebrating this momentous event. 

Tell us about yourself – where are you from, what do you do? 

My name is Estela Carregalo. I’m an artist and illustrator, born and raised in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Drawing has been my passion since childhood, but it was only in 2018 that I got my first job as a professional illustrator. Since then, my love for drawing has only increased, and for the last two years I have been working exclusively with illustration. As a graduate in fashion design, I always try to incorporate fashion and design references into my artwork. I also enjoy working with vibrant colors and integrating plenty of botanical elements into my pieces. 

What do you enjoy about being an artist? 

What I love most about my work as an artist is being able to transform ideas and narratives into images that express much more than words alone could. Being able to create images with my artistic style and using my worldview to communicate ideas is something that really fascinates me. 

We chose you and your work to represent Brazil – what does being Brazilian mean to you? 

To be Brazilian means absolutely everything to me. Being Brazilian is a crucial point in defining who I am. I’m so passionate about our culture, our music, our food and our people. Representing Brazil in my art is one of the things I love doing most. 

Do you like motorsport? What does it mean to work with the Andretti team? 

My father is very passionate about motorsport, and so I grew up in an environment where the sport was always present. Throughout my childhood on weekends, my dad always watched races, and everything I know about this universe I learned from him. When I was invited to collaborate with Andretti, I immediately wanted to tell my father, who was very excited about the opportunity for me! Being able to make the race poster really has a very significant emotional meaning for me. 

What was your design process for this poster?  

In the design of this poster, I aimed to bring together everything I wanted to represent: the Andretti car in the spotlight, the Sambadrome Anhembi with its iconic light posts, and of course, the many places that I believe represent the city of São Paulo very well. I always do many tests and sketches before reaching the final artwork, and this project was no different. I experimented with several compositions until I achieved the final result. 

Talk to us about the poster design – why did you include those colors and elements? 

For me, the goal of this poster was to represent São Paulo through my artistic perspective. I used my favorite color palette, which I typically incorporate into my art, and added floral elements that are also consistently present in my work. The São Paulo locations I chose to represent in this artwork are not only iconic to the city, but are places that I genuinely enjoy and are part of my life, as well as the lives of many other São Paulo citizens. I wanted to portray not only the city’s major architectural icons, but also places that are part of our daily lives, such as street food stalls that we call “barraca de pastel”, the kind of popular bar that we call “boteco”, and also the iconic residential buildings.  

For Andretti Formula E fans visiting São Paulo for this race, what places should they visit and what food should they eat? 

In a city so diverse with so many options, it’s really challenging to choose just a few places to recommend! But here are a few tips I’d like to give. Without a doubt, try a traditional feijoada, one of Brazil’s most famous dishes, which is typically served in São Paulo restaurants on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Don’t miss the chance to taste a “pastel de feira” too, a delicious Brazilian street food found at outdoor markets throughout the city, ideally accompanied by a cup of freshly squeezed sugarcane juice known as “caldo de cana”. Last but not least, I think everyone should taste a “coxinha”, a very popular Brazilian snack that can be found at local bars across the city. 

We extend our deepest gratitude to Estela Carregalo for her exceptional design of our 2024 São Paulo E-Prix race poster and invite you to delve deeper into her artistic perspective by exploring her work on her social channels below. 

Instagram: @estelacarregalo // TikTok: @estelacarregalo 

Andretti Formula E’s Jake Dennis and Norman Nato will be back in action this Saturday, March 16, for the highly anticipated 2024 São Paulo E-Prix. Be sure to tune in and watch as both drivers aim for another successful haul of championship points in Round 4 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.