Jacques Tilly (born 27 June 1963) is a German sculptor and illustrator, known for his politically satirical sculptures that adorn
floats in protests and parades,[2][3][4] and is considered the premier carnival float designer in Germany.[5]
Early life
Jacques Tilly was born in 1963 in
Düsseldorf, and attended the Comenius-Gymnasium high school.[6] He studied graphic design at the
University of Duisburg-Essen, graduating in 1994.[7]
Tilly is known for his
papier-mâché sculptures that are featured on parade floats,[3][9] most notably those in
Rosenmontag, during
Carnival in Düsseldorf,[10][11] for which he has made sculptures since 1983.[7] The sculptures often have overt political messaging to them, and frequently include
caricatured depictions of politicians, world leaders, and religious figures, especially those on the
far-right.[5][11][12] These themes gained increased attention during the late 2010s, with some of Tilly's sculptures featuring U.S. President
Donald Trump, U.K. Prime Minister
Theresa May, Polish Deputy Prime Minister
Jarosław Kaczyński, and German Chancellor
Angela Merkel.[10][11][12] Other topics of note include
Brexit and the
COVID-19 pandemic.[13] In addition to German parades and festivals, the sculptures have also appeared at protests and political events abroad, including one in front of the House of Parliament in London.[14]
Tilly is also an illustrator, and has designed official
postcards, calendars, and portraits for several German cities.[5][15]