In a strictly commercial sense, illustrators are translators. They distill an idea into a single image, whether that idea manifests itself as a book, a product, or even a political campaign. But whatever the message, their job is the same as any artist: To make you feel. To go for the jugular by way of the visual cortex.
In 2024, visual trends were reflective of the chaotic landscape, socially and politically. Minimalism was in – but so were bright, neon landscapes that could convey the image of a brighter future. In a year where people are becoming all too savvy to the “tells” of AI imagery, it’s no contest: Human creativity is still in demand.
Here’s a roundup (in no particular order) of the 10 illustrators to watch in 2025. Their work runs the gamut: Digital ad campaigns, graphic novels, even children’s books. But they’ve got one thing in common: An ability to move you.
Deena So’Oteh
If you’ve read an article in the New York Times or Guardian this year, there’s a good chance that an image by Deena So’Oteh drew you in. The best of her artwork subtly recalls the strong, forward-leaning figures and sharp contrast of Russian propaganda art, but subverts that influence with a softer edge that focuses on humanity. Deena is a Society of Illustrators favorite who has racked up a print design award in 2024 from the Society for News Design. On top of that, she’s found steady work expanding the Star Wars universe with covers for their Essential Legends collection.
Zack Rock
This Berlin-based artist took the 2024 Folio Book Illustration Award, and he’s just getting started. His whimsical, earthy art is perfect for children’s books, and he’s even written and illustrated two of his own (Homer Henry Hudson's Curio Museum and A Good Story). A third is in the works, but you don’t have to browse the kids’ section at the bookstore to see his works. His watercolor art has popped in Communication Arts, 3X3 and other high-profile design mags.
Kristen Hadaway
Hadaway’s resume as a freelance concept artist got a big boost when she beat out a year’s worth of imaginative artists competing for the title of 2023 Writers of the Future Illustrator of the Year. This Baltimore illustrator has a knack for grounding her futuristic city scenes and alien characters with a keen sense of lighting, and while her work is a great fit for comics and animation projects, she’s currently hard at work doing video game concept art for up and coming studios.
Murugiah
Splashy and colorful as a Holi celebration, the creations of this “multi-disciplinary British Sri Lankan artist, illustrator and designer” are equally at home on the cover of The New Yorker as they are on Heavy Metal. He’s far more than a hired gun for magazines, though. His installations, sculptures and murals have been seen all over England, and his acrylic paintings have been standouts in group exhibitions like “70 Years of Godzilla” at the FP Contemporary in Los Angeles.
Emmeli Markegaard
This creative has gone from humble beginnings in her native Norway to a globe-trotting career as an illustrator for hire. Fantasy novels were a particular muse in her youth, and today she paints lush covers for them. That sense of the fantastic infuses every outlet for her art, whether it be a mural for a high-profile client or a fundraising campaign for Doctors Without Borders. These days she’s settled into a life of creativity in Portugal, and we can’t wait to see what 2025 brings.
Darya Shnykina
It’s astounding that it took until 2024 for Communication Arts to give Darya Shnykina their Award of Excellence. The Russian freelancer has been creating breathtaking magazine covers and film posters for years. The project that garnered the award was for a story in the Deseret News: “The Women That #MeToo Left Behind,” and it perfectly captures what Shnykina does well: Stark shadows, defiant forms and a sparse color palette that delivers a hard message without softening the blow.
Ryo Kaneyasu
The works of this prolific Japanese illustrator remind us that eastern art isn’t all intricate woodblocks and noisy manga panels. Kaneyasu can make an incredibly expressive face – or even an entire city scene – out of a few thick, simple lines. He’s built his own brand simultaneously with his commercial work for clients like Bang & Olufsen, and the design blog Streamline recently pointed him out as one of the top illustrators of 2024.
Andrea Settimo
Print magazine gave Andrea Settimo a nod for his work on Sam Sax’s kaleidoscopic novel Yr Dead, calling it one of the best covers of August 2024. And while that passionate, psychedelic cover might be attention-grabbing, it hardly hints at Settimo’s more nuanced work as a cartoonist. The Italian illustrator pays the bills creating page art for media outlets like the New York Times and The Believer, and he recently completed his graphic novel La Novella dell'Avventuriero with author Alessandro Tota.
Daniel Warren Johnson
Chicago artist Daniel Warren Johnson’s hard-edged but expressive work on the Transformers comic book series took home not one but two coveted Eisner awards in 2024. This was all the more impressive considering that he beat out several high-profile DC titles with the win. Johnson is riding that wave of indie cred with The Moon is Following Us, a title he created with writer Riley Rossmo for Image Comics. The first issue came out in September, and fans are already hungry for more.
Peach Momoko
The haunting, painterly vibes of Japanese illustrator Peach Momoko are already very familiar to modern comics fans. Lines to get her exclusive Spawn cover at San Diego Comic-Con stretched through the convention hall, and small wonder: Marvel Comics has effectively handed her the keys to the mutant universe as writer and artist on Ultimate X-Men. She’ll also be joining high-profile creators like Matt Fraction and Brian Michael Bendis on a relaunch of the popular French sci-fi anthology Metal Hurlant in 2025.
There’s a lot of inspiration to be taken from the art of these illustrators – and even more to be gained from the illustrators themselves. Whether you’re a freelance illustrator, a book cover designer, or still trying to make your mark, keep an eye on the paths these creators forge in 2025 and beyond.
In the meantime, forge your own.
Create with us.