Illustrator
I always think it's so silly whenever I get invited to be on stage. I used to be the kid who sat in a corner.
To me, the main product of my work is not the drawing in the end, but the time I spent with the drawing.
I like my work the best when I can surprise myself.
It's somehow really soothing and empowering to realise that a big group of people are dealing with the same things and to share all the different approaches and ideas everyone has developed.
The article by Katy Cowan offers a personal reflection on attending Pictoplasma 2026, a small, character design-focused creative festival in Berlin. It highlights the event’s intimate, introvert-friendly atmosphere and the sense of community among illustrators and animators. Through interviews and observations, Cowan portrays Pictoplasma as a slow-burning but deeply rewarding experience for creatives seeking genuine connection.
Creative Boom’s 2026 community poll highlights 15 illustrators shaping the global illustration scene, emphasizing originality and human touch in an AI-saturated era. The list spans established names like Noma Bar and Malika Favre to emerging talents such as Anna Micheloni and Genie Espinosa. The article celebrates craftsmanship, individuality, and the enduring commercial relevance of distinctive illustration.
Creative Boom reports that Pictoplasma Berlin 2026, the world’s leading conference on character creativity, will return to Berlin in May 2026 under the theme 'In and Out of Character'. The event will feature over 20 speakers including Christoph Niemann, Gemma Correll, and Marylou Faure, alongside workshops, animation screenings, and a public open house. Creative Boom will attend and cover the event, highlighting its focus on storytelling and creative experimentation.
The article announces the return of Us By Night in 2025, a three-day creative festival in Antwerp blending design talks, installations, and nightlife. Founder Rizon Parein emphasizes cross-disciplinary collaboration, with a lineup featuring designers like Bráulio Amado, Sabine Marcelis, and Studio Yukiko. New additions include a large wheatpaste wall installation and an app developed with November Five to connect attendees across the city.
Creative Boom’s article, written by Tom May in partnership with Agent Pekka, spotlights ten illustrators from the agency’s global roster. The feature highlights diverse artistic styles and mediums, from handcrafted stop-motion to abstract digital compositions, showcasing emerging and established talent across continents. It positions Agent Pekka as a leading representative of contemporary illustration and animation talent.
It’s Nice That’s ‘Review of the Year 2024: Top 15 Talks’ highlights standout moments from its Nicer Tuesdays events in London and New York. The article features talks from creatives such as Jean Jullien, Harriet Richardson, Greg Bunbury, and Studio Yukiko, celebrating humor, community, and multidisciplinary creativity. The roundup invites readers to revisit inspiring talks that defined the creative year.
Creative Boom profiles Brooklyn-based illustrator Karlotta Freier, exploring her intuitive, free-flowing approach to drawing and her balance between analogue and digital techniques. The article highlights her work for major clients like Hermès, The New York Times, and The New Yorker, as well as her personal projects and teaching practice. Freier discusses her philosophy of enjoying the process of creation and fostering community through her Illustrators Acquainted initiative.