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Faculty of Design

Illustration

In the Illustration program, students learn how to produce images that complement the written word or stand on their own. Students are encouraged to express their individual artistic voice, while examining the world we live in.
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James Nicolosi-Cao
James Nicolosi-Cao

Illustration

James Nicolosi-Cao

“Ritual is a multi-media series of works depicting various forms of body modification to demonstrate how physical changes can have a sacred, transformative, spiritual effect that exceeds the body’s limitations. Body modification is synthesized with... More

Seeun Chu
Seeun Chu

Illustration

Seeun Chu

““It makes sense” explains how our experience is made of a combination of senses that lead us to feel emotions through visual communication, to show through visually illustrates numerous senses in each piece and highlights the importance of senses. ”

Prarthana Dayal
Prarthana Dayal

Illustration

Prarthana Dayal

“BEYOUTIFUL is a visual exploration of my journey as a young adult navigating a new environment, balancing internal thoughts and emotions with external social pressures. My thesis project focuses on the transition from adolescence to adulthood, what... More

Riley Drummond
Riley Drummond

Illustration

Riley Drummond

“"Affirmations" is meant to bring a relatable awkwardness to mindfulness practices that are encouraged but are rarely helpful to a chronically uncomfortable twenty-something girl, illustrating these affirmations through playfully gross abstractions... More

Iona Yeh
Iona Yeh

Illustration

Iona Yeh

““Go to Hell” is a playful take on human imperfection. Drawn from the familiar framework of the 7 deadly sins, this series aims to show the ripples of not-so-deadly tendencies humans exhibit in a memorable and humorous light. The united disdain for... More

Miranda Pinzon Castaneda
Miranda Pinzon Castaneda

Illustration

Miranda Pinzon Castaneda

“My work covers a wide variety of different themes but mainly those that revolve around family, love, friendship as well as my Colombian Nationality, I try to incorporate aspects of cultural traditions, foods, fashion and so on in every piece that I... More

Tiffany Huang
Tiffany Huang

Illustration

Tiffany Huang

“'Wishes Come True' is a series of depictions of unusual but fulfilled Make-a-Wish requests, questioning whether we are truly appreciating life to its full potential. ”

Caden Zhang
Caden Zhang

Illustration

Caden Zhang

“Dust of Buzhou is a series of narrative illustrations set in a war-torn Eastern land, where humans uncover the decayed corpses of their Mother Goddesses, Tian-ren. These beings, once worshipped as the bringers of music and writing, are now... More

Brunna Fanticelli de Moura
Brunna Fanticelli de Moura

Illustration

Brunna Fanticelli de Moura

“'Blind Devotees' is a series of depictions of historical and fictional women who have shown great devotion in exchange for their own mental and physical well-being. ”

Tara Haghighi
Tara Haghighi

Illustration

Tara Haghighi aka. Stara Arts

“"Selseleh (Dynasty), explores an Iranian society in a futuristic setting that blends tradition and modernity. It reimagines ancient Iranian innovations in a futuristic context to bridge "what once was" with "what can be." ”

Hadia Shahid
Hadia Shahid

Illustration

Hadia Shahid

“Commandments 10.0 reimagines the 10 commandments, aka ancient moral codes, in a dystopian, cyberpunk world to question and explore evolving moralities, technological impacts, and ethical choices. ”

Effie Xie
Effie Xie

Illustration

Effie Xie

“'Sapphic Stories' celebrates sapphic love from historic literary works by depicting couples partaking in activities considered 'unlawful' in their respective eras. This highlights how sapphics throughout history had to act defiantly to establish... More

Faith Achu
Faith Achu

Illustration

Faith Achu

““I Am” is a series of metaphorical and symbolic illustrations interpreting the seven "I Am" statements of Jesus from the Book of John. These works aim to deepen the meaning of these statements through a contemporary lens, providing viewers with an... More

Xintong Zuo
Xintong Zuo

Illustration

Xintong Zuo aka. Kally

“Illustration is a medium that transforms non-visual elements—such as poetry, music, and emotion—into a visual language ”

Emma Mauceri
Emma Mauceri

Illustration

Emma Mauceri aka. em.motions

“Casual Catastrophes is a series of satirical illustrations that flip the cause-and-effect of human lifestyle choices and their impact on the environment; by using inconceivable literals to humorously critique the consequences those choices have on... More

John Lee
John Lee

Illustration

John Lee aka. mortemflail

“Domicell, a homophonic pun on the word domicile, depicts the effects of the housing crisis and financial turmoil across cultures and social statuses. The word “cell” implies the sense of entrapment from the foreboding economic outlook, and the use... More

Zoë Belkin
Zoë Belkin

Illustration

Zoë Belkin

“"Poster Girl" illustrates a selection of Dorothy Parker poems from her book, "Enough Rope", in the form of advertisements highlighting female independence and empowerment. Like the poems, my illustrations often turn society’s negativity towards... More

Samantha Lu
Samantha Lu

Illustration

Samantha Lu

“ From the fanciful myths of old to today’s morbid fascination with true crime, humans have always engaged in the act of speculating, of seeking a “why.” *Case Closed…?* presents a whimsical exploration into human curiosity and the need for... More

Susan Guo
Susan Guo

Illustration

Susan Guo

“Witch Alchemy is a series of magical realism illustrations that More

Qiutong Lu
Qiutong Lu

Illustration

Qiutong Lu aka. Lu

“"Extraordinary Encounters" is a series of lucky and unlucky events that challenge the idea of control over our lives. Through these stories, we can gain a new appreciation of predestination and chance, and gain a better sense of intuition” More

STRAY //
STRAY //

Illustration

STRAY // aka. Altair Hussain

“Still wandering... ”

Scout Goshgarian
Scout Goshgarian

Illustration

Scout Goshgarian

“Prerequisites for Perfection critiques the unrealistic beauty ideals promoted by contemporary media. Through exaggeration and awkward distortions, the work mocks the idea that perfection is something we must actively strive for by following... More

Pailin Mirault
Pailin Mirault

Illustration

Pailin Mirault aka. MIRO

“I'm Pailin, an illustrator and designer specializing in branding, apparel design and merch. I've seen businesses struggle with storytelling and brand identity. My experience in branding and advertisement allows me to help companies tell their... More

Annette Barilo
Annette Barilo

Illustration

Annette Barilo

“"Unforgiving Feast" looks at ingredients found in food we consume that are not necessarily harmful but when eaten in excess, can cause health problems. These ingredients are visually represented by creature designs to emphasize how dangerous they... More

Jesse Yevdaev
Jesse Yevdaev

Illustration

Jesse Yevdaev

“'A Familiar Tale' presents current issues within Slavic countries while comparing them to understated Slavic mythology. As these pieces place mythological figures within the literal world, messages of consequence and warning reflect what is... More

Nikole Wang
Nikole Wang

Illustration

Nikole Wang aka. HerboJello

“My project the Eclipses is an illustration project based on personal expression, which tells a complete story in the form of eight sequential illustrations. I hope to use it for a non-commercial purpose, so that the audience can understand my life... More

Emily Chu
Emily Chu

Illustration

Emily Chu

““Resilience” is a series of illustrations that imagines a far-future version of the world after the planet has been ravaged by the climate crisis. The remnants of life are beginning to thrive once more thanks to the evolved abilities of resilient... More

Allison Wallace
Allison Wallace

Illustration

Allison Wallace aka. Allie

“Slasher-Her is a series of movie posters that display women gaining autonomy through the Monstrous Feminine Theory, by reversing the roles from victims to other horror archetypes typically portrayed by men to reflect struggles from real life. More

Anna Wang
Anna Wang

Illustration

Anna Wang aka. LongFurTiger

“Every line, every splash of color, is a little rebellion against a boring world. ”

Lilian Li
Lilian Li

Illustration

Lilian Li

“"Our Stories in Verses” reimagines childhood nursery rhymes through the lens of modern womanhood, revealing how these sing-song tales whispered in our earliest days may have quietly shaped who we have become. ”

Elsa Stevenson
Elsa Stevenson

Illustration

Elsa Stevenson

“Trouble in Paradise is a series exploring the downsides of seemingly idyllic tourist locations, whimsical landscapes concealing a hidden cost of living relatable beyond my smaller scope of Bermuda. ”

Shamika Pierre
Shamika Pierre

View Medal Winners

Illustration

Shamika Pierre

“The American Dream is a conceptual illustration series that unveils the unsettling experiences of the Black diaspora in North America. By exposing the illusion of the Dream, my work reveals the eerie realities that exist in contrast to its promises. ”

Juliana Montes de Oca
Juliana Montes de Oca

Illustration

Juliana Montes de Oca

“'Between Light and Shadow' explores still-life, portraiture and abstract subjects in the context of quiet or transitional moments in life through a series of traditional oil paintings. This series consists of multiple personal reflections on... More

Michelle Maliszewski
Michelle Maliszewski

Illustration

Michelle Maliszewski aka. Mich Maliszewska

“My work started when I read Wendy Cope's poem "The Orange," describing a hilariously sized orange the speaker shares with her friends, and their newfound appreciation with day to day living. My thesis aims to explore oranges as a soft-spoken yet... More

Dhanica Dumalagan
Dhanica Dumalagan

Illustration

Dhanica Dumalagan aka. Dhani

“ “Eulogy of the Dog” commemorates several of modern history's renowned dogs, whose companionship, sacrifice, and services were instrumental to humanity’s development, discovery, and survival. The series' title borrows George G. Vest’s infamous... More

Jamilah Lambert-Jackson
Jamilah Lambert-Jackson

Illustration

Jamilah Lambert-Jackson aka. Milah

“"More Than Human" visualizes the real-life examples of transhumanism in natural, and trauma induced evolution. Exploring how humans have evolved to go beyond the basic physical and mental boundaries. Using fantastical imagery, to depict anomalies... More

Anna Teolis
Anna Teolis

Illustration

Anna Teolis

“At Home, visually explore the impact that emotion has on our perception of physical space. Conceptually, I want to delve into the emotional variances of loneliness, as it is a feeling which is often oppositional or antagonizing to our surroundings.... More

Annika Lui
Annika Lui

Illustration

Annika Lui aka. R.J.R. Annika Lui

“"We Want to Remember" is a collection of digital artworks critiquing lived spaces, identity, and art under the Global Caste System. The artworks imagine a way to break away from these hierarchies focused on economics and land over social... More

Denise Lei Que
Denise Lei Que

Illustration

Denise Lei Que aka. Leichee

“"Naturalization" features diasporic experiences through the synthesis of invasive plants that have naturalized in different countries. The word "Naturalization" refers to a non-native plant becoming accustomed to a new ecosystem it was placed in.... More

Sofia Perez Avila
Sofia Perez Avila

Illustration

Sofia Perez Avila

“"Blooming" illustrates the stories of girls growing up queer, starting from childhood moments, navigating the teenage years, and growing into adulthood as they navigate what it means to come out of the closet. ”

Brianna Goslin
Brianna Goslin

Illustration

Brianna Goslin

“"Care Guide" aims to demonstrate how plant behaviours and care requirements can mirror how humans care for each other and themselves. Through illustrations of characters based on each plant, we understand more about our own behaviours and needs. ”

Rameesah Khan
Rameesah Khan

Illustration

Rameesah Khan

“'Zentangle Serenity' explores the therapeutic nature of Zentangle art by incorporating it into relatable and chaotic everyday scenes. By emphasizing the contrast between calm and disorder, viewers are invited to reconnect with a sense of... More

Charlotte Jackson
Charlotte Jackson

Illustration

Charlotte Jackson

“Past Futures examines the subjectivity of the future by imagining what past societies’ versions of science fiction might look like. What did their “cutting edges” of technology and culture look like, and how would they look applied to a far future? ”

Silvia Yu
Silvia Yu

Illustration

Silvia Yu

“Scales is a visual examination of society’s obsessive pursuit of an idealized vision of life—often at the expense of equitable resource distribution. By focusing on the idea of the “unequal exchange” of resources, each illustration highlights the... More

Ezra Humphreys
Ezra Humphreys

Illustration

Ezra Humphreys

“'By The Wayside' is a roadtrip through the various issues and challenges presented by car-culture and automobile-dependent infrastructure. Through mythical and surrealist imagery, this body of multimedia illustrations turns the high beams on to... More

Yixin Chen
Yixin Chen

Illustration

Yixin Chen aka. the19ave

“Finding the uncanniness and the tenderness in mundane experience. ”

Odelia Lim
Odelia Lim

Illustration

Odelia Lim aka. odeeria

“Evoking a sense of joy and amusement through art ”

Haru Tai
Haru Tai

Illustration

Haru Tai aka. Haruspex illu

“"Forgotten Victims" is an 8-piece collection that depicts Japanese WWII war crimes, including comfort women, Unit 731, and the Nanjing occupation. The Japanese army or victims of war are portrayed as yokai, reflecting their actions in bold,... More

Hanna Jegarl
Hanna Jegarl

Illustration

Hanna Jegarl

“I help bring stories to life through expressive characters and narrative-driven illustration, perfect for children's publishing and character design in games. My work blends emotion, softness, and storytelling to create visuals that connect. ”

Yani Feng
Yani Feng

Illustration

Yani Feng

“In an effort to avoid my mother's wishes to be an accountant, I pursued my childhood passion for art and storytelling, studying illustration and design. My artistic style blends digital and analog media, creating work that pulls on emotion and... More

Maria Press
Maria Press

Illustration

Maria Press aka. Masha Press the Button

“Currently, most of art surrounds “Peace and Glory”, the comic I’m working on. It is set in the universe woven out of slavic folklore, often touching upon or reimagining traditional farytails, while maintaining a unique storyline. In a way, my work... More

Maria de los Angeles Sanchez Garcia
Maria de los Angeles Sanchez Garcia

Illustration

Maria de los Angeles Sanchez Garcia

“Miracles are Afoot is a series of illustrations depicting different miracles that have shaped my family's history, combining magical realism elements and heavily influenced by Mexican imagery, to honor stories of resilience and faith. The... More

Grey Jones
Grey Jones

Illustration

Grey Jones

Yeru Zou
Yeru Zou

Illustration

Yeru Zou

“This collection gathers illustrations from my course projects over the past year. Though each piece was created for a different topic, they quietly resonate with one another — glimpses of solitude, warmth, waiting, or imagination. Rendered in a... More

Nancy Correia
Nancy Correia

Illustration

Nancy Correia

“Paraliminal examines how children of colour growing up in the Western world inhabit a space of ambivalence, navigating their identity through the paradox of being neither “us” nor “them”. To inhabit a space of ambivalence as a person of colour is... More

Janna Wang
Janna Wang

Illustration

Janna Wang

“I'm Janna, an illustrator and graphic designer with a strong passion for continuous learning and creative exploration. I'm well-equipped to bring ideas to life. I enjoy using color as a key tool to express concepts and emotions. ”

Zainab Ali
Zainab Ali

Illustration

Zainab Ali

““Revivify” is a whimsical yet emotional exploration of how trauma reshapes identity, told through the story of Darjeel, a once-proud general whose head is replaced by a teapot. As he journeys to recover what he’s lost, he begins to understand that... More

Cathy Feng
Cathy Feng

Illustration

Cathy Feng

“"New Century Fairy Tales" redefines traditional fairy tales by incorporating modern values such as diversity, gender equality, and personal growth. It introduces inclusive characters from diverse backgrounds to break stereotypes and empower... More

Ozan Metin
Ozan Metin

Illustration

Ozan Metin

“"EAGLE:91" is a comic book project where we enter the imaginative world of a young child named Kartal. In this universe, where science fiction and football come together, an exciting adventure awaits us. More

Jade Kent-Brewster
Jade Kent-Brewster

Illustration

Jade Kent-Brewster aka. JKB Studios

“Fi We T’ing, Fi We Culture: Is all about celebrating what makes the Caribbean so special, our culture, our traditions and the stories that have been passed down through generations. This is resistance and pride, every detail holds an energy, a... More

Haina Liu
Haina Liu

Illustration

Haina Liu

“The Apple Chronicles" looks at the apple not just as a fruit, but as a vessel of stories—tales of desire, discovery, danger, and decay. By tracing its path from ancient myth to modern machines, this series reflects on how one familiar symbol has... More

Amy Su
Amy Su

Illustration

Amy Su

“Here‘s an artist and also a dream builder More

Fiona Sun
Fiona Sun

Illustration

Fiona Sun

Darrel Foster
Darrel Foster

Illustration

Darrel Foster

Erin Humphries
Erin Humphries
Unity Chiu
Unity Chiu

Illustration

Unity Chiu

Yura Koh
Yura Koh

Illustration

Yura Koh

Zijing Deng
Zijing Deng

Illustration

Zijing Deng

Lisa Li
Lisa Li

Illustration

Lisa Li aka. Naiomir

Alexa Kim
Alexa Kim

Illustration

Alexa Kim

Yuwen Ding
Yuwen Ding

Illustration

Yuwen Ding

Ryan Beckwith
Ryan Beckwith
Wanchae Lee
Wanchae Lee

Illustration

Wanchae Lee

Yumi Ohashi
Yumi Ohashi

Illustration

Yumi Ohashi

Brooklyn Carroll
Brooklyn Carroll

Illustration

Brooklyn Carroll

Madison Braun
Madison Braun

Illustration

Madison Braun

Ana Curado E Silva
Ana Curado E Silva

Illustration

Ana Curado E Silva

Celebrate the work of OCAD U’s class of 2024/2025!