Catalan illustrator, Imma Pla studied Graphic Design in the Elisava School, in Barcelona. She soon learned how to work with images and to separate graphics from drawing. She started out combining different work options, collaborating with several magazines and newspapers which enabled her to work in different areas and to gain confidence in the use of image.

She received the Apel.les Mestres prize in 1992 which encouraged her to continue illustrating. A few years ago, she decided to change her name to Imapla and began to write, as well as continuing to work with the use of image.

In the year 2007, she was given the International prize of Illustration on behalf of the SM foundation, for her book Los pájaros aprenden idiomas: a story through images and sounds. It is an original graphical work in an illustrated album format.

At the moment, she is working in different projects combining the world of illustration with graphic design. She also collaborates on a weekly basis with the newspaper El País as well as with some magazines.

Imapla’s books in lazuli

http://www.imapla.net/

PRIZES, MENTIONS AND EXHIBITIONS

• Special mention in the Lazarillo Prize for children’s books, awarded by OEPLI, for De petit cada any és un dit written by Montse Ganges, Barcelona 1990.
• Finalist in the Apel.les Mestres prize for children’s books awarded by Ediciones Destino, for Zip y la oveja del sueño written by Montse Ganges, 1991.
• Apel.les Mestres prize for the book Zip y el dragón fanfaron by Monste Ganges 1992.
• Mention of honour in the Graphical Prize of Bologna Children’s Book Fair for the book Zip y el dragón fanfaron.
• International illustrators prize (UNICEF year), to participate in the 1993 Christmas book, awarded at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, in 1992.
• First prize in the II National Prize of Illustration awarded by the Ministry of Culture for the illustrated children’s book Un cuento sin pies ni cabeza written by Angels Ollé, 1994.
• Serra d’Or Prize for children’s literature, awarded by the Publicaciones Abadia de Montserrat, for the book Un cuento sin pies ni cabeza, 1994.
• Member of the jury for the National Prize of Illustration, 1995.
• Participation in the Ilustrísimos Exhibition at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair,  and member of the jury of the National Prize of illustration 2006.
• International prize of Illustration awarded by Fundación Santa María, for the book Los pájaros aprenden idiomas, 2007.
• Special Mention at the Junceda Awards for Y tú ¿qué has hecho, 2008.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Zip y el dragón fanfarrón. Text by Montse Ganges. Ediciones Destino, 1991, Spain.
• Zip y la oveja del sueño. Text by Montse Ganges. Ediciones Destino, 1992, Spain.
• Un cuento sin pies ni cabeza. Text by Angels Ollé. Editorial Manuel Salvat, 1994, Spain.
• El gato con botas. Version of Montse Ginesta. Editorial Acanto, 1999, Spain.
• Mis primeras 80.000 palabras. Several authors. Editorial Media Vaca, 2002, Spain.
• Tú, ¿cómo estás? Libros del Zorro Rojo, 2006, Spain.
• Tú, ¿qué quieres ser? Libros del Zorro Rojo, 2007, Spain.
• Un dedo al año. Text by Montse Ganges. Thule Ediciones, 2007, Spain.
• Los pájaros aprende idiomas (How the Birds learn languages). Ediciones SM, 2007, Spain.
• Pequeño Coco. Text by Monste Ganges. Editorial Casals/ Bambú, 2008, Spain.
• Mamá (My Mum). Serres Editorial, 2008, Spain.
• Y tú, ¿qué has hecho? (And you, what have you done?) Text by Eusebio Delfín, Ekaré Ediciones, 2008, Venezuela.
• El rey del mar (The King of the Sea), Océano-Travesía, 2010.

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