7 Famous Illustrators you Need to Know
By Artist and Illustrator, Austin Miller
Okay so you’ve seen Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and can name at least four of the renaissance greats (Donatello, Michaelangelo, Leonardo, Raphael). Or maybe your a step better, and you’ve taken Art 101 and can spot the differences between a Carvaggio and a Monet. But how many contemporary artists can you name? Illustrators? Probably even less.
Ironically illustrators produce the artwork we see most often, from comics to packaging to posters. It’s time we learn their names! Obviously by listing 7 famous illustrators this is not an exhaustive list but it’s strategic. Giving you the name of only seven famous illustrators (rather than 50 or even 20) will allow you to hopefully actually remember these names, and recognize their styles. So here they are, the famous illustrators you need to know, according to an illustrator.
1. Jean Jullien
French illustrator Jean Jullien has created a recognizable style with his thick lines and whimsical characters. His work has been featured in: He has created numerous works for “New York Times, New Yorker, The Guardian, Beams, RCA Records, The Connaught, Colette, SZ Magazin, National Geographic, Le Grand Palais, Le Centre Pompidou, Amnesty International, Esquire, Le Coq Sportif, Le Bon Marché, Hermès, Mr. Porter, Champion USA, Salomon, Petit Bateau, Vogue and many more.”
2. Bodil Jane
Bodil’s work is colorful, uses flat shapes and strong details. Her work often features women and plants, and she boasts a large social media following. Bodil lives in Amsterdam and her client list includes the likes of The New Yorker and Unicef.
3. Sebastian Curi
Argentinian illustrator Sebastian Curi has been in the game for some time. Based in Vancouver, Canada — he has an instantly recognizable style with fun, colorful characters who always seem to be in motion. His client list is as impressive as his work, including: Apple, Warby Parker, Outdoor Voices, The New Yorker, Venmo and more.
4. Andy J. Pizza
Andy J. Pizza has a fun style and takes a lot of inspiration from his one of his favorite childhood creators, Jim Henson. But he’s more than just an illustrators — he’s a influencer. Not the cringe-worthy kind but the kind who tries to encourage others to find their artistic voice and create. He hosts a popular podcast and does live speaking events as well. You may not have heard of him but I’m willing to bet most of the illustrators on this list have.
5. Bijou Karman
Bijou Karman shares some similarities with the aforementioned Bodil Jane, heavily featuring women, plants, and colorful patterns. However, her work is less two dimensional and tends towards a more detailed aesthetic. Most of her characters have a lot of style and attitude and opt not to smile. Her client list includes heavy hitter fashion brands like Prada, Nike and Harper’s Bizarre.
6. Alva Skog
Represented by the venerable illustration agency, Jelly London, Alva Skog hits all the milestones of an illustrators illustrator, having work used by The New Yorker, The Gaurdian and Apple. The Swedish artist uses bold, strong primary colors and plays with scale in the most delightful way.
7. Bruno Mangyoku
If you spend much time on Medium, you may have already seen some of Bruno’s work. Bruno was commissioned by Medium to do this illustration:
Bruno Mangyoku is French illustrator represented by British agency, Handsome Frank and boasts clients like Forbes and The Telegraph. He uses clean shading, soothing colors, and thing outlines. In a way, his work is reminiscent of an elevated graphic novel. Bruno is definitely one my favorites on this list and a must add to this list of famous illustrators.
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