It Wasnt Me, 2024

Javier Calleja (born 1971 in Málaga, Spain) is a contemporary artist widely recognized for his instantly identifiable characters featuring oversized, expressive eyes and a playful yet introspective tone. Drawing inspiration from cartoons, pop culture, and childhood imagery, Calleja’s work balances innocence with subtle emotional depth. His figures often appear curious, shy, or slightly mischievous, inviting viewers to reflect on vulnerability, humor, and human emotion. Over the past decade, Calleja has gained significant international attention through exhibitions across Europe, Asia, and the United States, with his paintings, sculptures, and prints becoming highly sought after by collectors for their accessible imagery and strong visual identity.

The print It Wasn’t Me (2024) exemplifies Calleja’s distinctive aesthetic through a carefully crafted and technically complex printmaking process. The work is produced using a 15-color engraving with four photopolymer etching plates layered over a digitally printed background, creating a rich interplay between traditional printmaking and contemporary digital techniques. Printed on delicate 65gsm Shin Inbe paper and mounted on 290gsm Fabriano Tiepolo paper, the piece achieves both visual depth and structural refinement, with a final color applied by hand by the printmaker to enhance the composition. It Wasn’t Me is signed and numbered from an edition of 250 and measures approximately 22 × 16.9 inches (56 × 43 cm.), presenting a charming yet sophisticated example of Calleja’s ability to combine technical precision with the emotional immediacy of his beloved wide-eyed characters.