Amélie Legault is a Montreal-based artist, illustrator, and children’s book author whose whimsical animal characters are instantly recognizable for their charm, humor, and playful sophistication. Born and raised in Canada, Amélie’s creative journey began early, guided by her mother, who taught her how to paint.

Some of her earliest works included a sparrow perched on a branch, a puppy on a pink background painted on an oval canvas—kitschy by her own admission—and, of course, an abundance of cats. As a teenager, her artistic curiosity deepened as she began copying her father’s vinyl record covers, while also admiring the expressive portraits of American music stars drawn by her grandfather.

These early influences—family, music, and storytelling through imagery—helped shape the foundation for her distinctive visual language. Amélie went on to study visual arts and art history, refining both her technical skill and artistic perspective. Before fully stepping into her career as an illustrator, she spent several years working in bookshops, surrounded by stories, imagery, and creative inspiration.

In 2013, her illustrated world truly took flight with a modest but memorable project: six pink flamingo birthday cards. What began as a small collection quickly evolved into a signature universe of playful animals infused with personality and wit. Those original flamingos soon found themselves driving scooters, talking on the phone, and engaging in delightfully human activities.

From there, Amélie expanded her menagerie to include animals from her native region—often depicted riding bicycles simply because, as she puts it, “it’s hilarious.” The collection continued to grow, welcoming creatures from the savannah, the sea, and the jungle. Today, nearly everyone in her illustrated world rides a bike, and many are dressed to impress—particularly birds, whom she loves to outfit with shoes and other fashionable details.

Working from her home studio in Montreal, Amélie creates her illustrations using pencils, markers, ink pens, and gouache paint. Her style blends realistic animal forms with a humorous, imaginative twist, resulting in artwork that feels both refined and joyfully unexpected—characters that resonate with audiences of all ages and bring a smile through their gentle absurdity and expressive charm.

Amélie Legault in collaboration with DenimINK.

Click any design to view it on jackets, tote bags, pillows, placemats, and aprons.

• CAT ON THE PHONE
• CATS RIDING A BICYCLE
• OCTOPUS RIDING A BICYCLE
• OWL WEARING CONVERSE SHOES
• OWLS ON SKATEBOARDS
• PINK FLAMINGO MEDITATING NAMASTE
• PINK FLAMINGO ON THE PHONE 1
• PINK FLAMINGO ON THE PHONE 2
• PINK FLAMINGOS RIDING A SCOOTER
• TURTLE RIDING A BICYCLE
• SHRIMP RIDING A BICYCLE
• View all Amélie Legault artwork →