© the artist and The Outsiders

Gary Taxali's work champions the "accidentally beautiful" and uses a host of influences from the past to create some of the most vibrant cartooning around. His show, My Feelings Like You, opens at The Outsiders in London next week...

A delicious blend of early-twentieth century graphic art, found materials and irreverant humour, Taxali's pictures are full of brilliantly realised characters; from Nervous Pete and sad old Chumpy, to the enigmatic Friendly Dave. "I just want people to appreciate the banal: things that are accidentally beautiful, like packaging," says Taxali.

© the artist and The Outsiders

"Turning a mirror onto the viewer is amazing for some artists, but I'm more interested in a form of escapism that makes people feel, ‘there's possibilities'," says Taxali. "Despite the horrible depression and turmoil of the 1920s and 1930s there was a general feeling of hope and optimism – even though man had never even been to the moon – and both are reflected in the imagery of the time. Even corporations represented themselves with cartoon characters, and weren't viewed as quite so terrible either."

© the artist and The Outsiders

The Outsiders is based at the relaunched Lazarides space on Greek Street in London and sells original work, prints and books by Lazarides artists. More at theoutsiders.net. Gary Taxali: My Feelings Like You opens May 4 at The Outsiders, 8 Greek Street, London W1D 4DG and runs until June 2.

© the artist and The Outsiders