Features

The Society of Illustrators Honors SVA Artists at its ‘Illustrators 67’ Exhibition

Ten community members are recognized at the Society’s prestigious annual show.

February 4, 2025 by Kylie Mitchell
A collage of three different artworks, each one primarily consisting of a primary color (red, yellow, and blue). A collage of three different artworks, each one primarily consisting of a primary color (red, yellow, and blue).

The Society of Illustrators, one of New York’s premier and longtime venues for showcasing the history and art of illustration, is currently running its annual juried exhibition recognizing outstanding creative work. Titled “Illustrators 67,” the two-part show features notable work created in 2024 by leading contemporary artists. This year, ten SVA community members were awarded across various categories, including uncommissioned, surface/product design, animation, book and editorial illustration.


The first part, “Illustrators 67th Annual Exhibition–Part One: Advertising, Institutional, Uncommissioned Categories,” is currently on view through Saturday, March 1. The second part, focusing on book and editorial work, opens on Saturday, March 8. Works from the surface/product design and animation categories will be on view throughout the duration of both shows. Here’s a look at the winning entries from SVA community members.

Animation–Silver Awards:

A mostly black image with white line art depicting a woman shoveling some grain into a little boy's outstretched palms. A mostly black image with white line art depicting a woman shoveling some grain into a little boy's outstretched palms.

A still from Jeremiah Dickey’s animated short Sürgünlik (Exile).

A still from Jeremiah Dickey’s animated short Sürgünlik (Exile).

Jeremiah Dickey’s (BFA 2001 Animation) animated short Sürgünlik (Exile) follows the story of a single mother and her children during the Soviet purge of Crimean Tatars at the end of WWII. Commissioned for the documentary Jamala: Songs of Freedom, the film is based on an account passed down three generations and relayed by Susana Alimivna Jamaladinova, also known as popular Ukrainian singer Jamala.

Illustration (Uncommissioned)–Silver Awards:

A brightly colored illustration of what looks like a Taiwanese/Chinese store/restaurant. There are people in masks and hair covers preparing food and peking ducks hang in a display. A brightly colored illustration of what looks like a Taiwanese/Chinese store/restaurant. There are people in masks and hair covers preparing food and peking ducks hang in a display.

Vivi John’s illustration, Grandpa’s Bento Shop.

Vivi John’s illustration, Grandpa’s Bento Shop.

About her illustration Grandpa’s Bento Shop, Vivi John (MFA 2024 Illustration as Visual Essay) writes, “Growing up, we would always stop at Grandpa’s store after school for lunch. It was my last visit to Grandpa’s store before I left to study abroad. Grandpa still goes to work every day, but he couldn’t recognize me anymore. I will always remember this place, where my memories were made.”

An illustration of a man with his eyes closed holding soil from which a plant is growing. He is surrounded by various other flowers and plants including tomatoes and sunflowers. An illustration of a man with his eyes closed holding soil from which a plant is growing. He is surrounded by various other flowers and plants including tomatoes.

A still from Lily Padula’s animation for The Marshall Project’s Inside Story.

A still from Lily Padula’s animation for The Marshall Project’s Inside Story.

For The Marshall Project’s Inside Story series, Lily Padula (BFA 2013 Illustration) was commissioned to create animations depicting the story of Bobby Bostic—the youngest person to receive a life sentence for a robbery—and how he found refuge in gardening during his incarceration.

Surface/Product Design–Silver Awards:

Boxes with brightly colored and slightly psychedelic drawings of skateboarders wearing a big pink top in varying poses. The logo for Timeless is above the skateboarder, Boxes with brightly colored and slightly psychedelic drawings of skateboarders wearing a big pink top in varying poses. The logo for Timeless is above the skateboarder,

Shred for the Cure: Illustrated Package Design for Timeless x Head for the Cure Box Set designed by John Malta.

Shred for the Cure: Illustrated Package Design for Timeless x Head for the Cure Box Set designed by John Malta.

Artist John Malta (MFA 2012 Illustration as Visual Essay) collaborated with Timeless Vapes to create their latest collection for Shred for the Cure, of which all profits will be donated to the Head for the Cure organization to support brain cancer awareness.

Animation Category–Gold Awards:

A lineart drawing where a woman with short hair on a big screen is using an old-fashioned telephone. There are people standing on blocks around her. A lineart drawing where a woman with short hair on a big screen is using an old-fashioned telephone. There are people standing on blocks around her.

A still from Yiting Nan’s Dial Tone animation.

A still from Yiting Nan’s Dial Tone animation.

Set in a retro-futuristic society, Yiting Nan’s (BFA 2022 Design) short animation Dial Tone reimagines a video call between friends using analog technology of the ’80s.

Illustration (Uncommissioned)–Gold Awards:

An surrealist illustration depiction a large alien-like head in which there is a man and a woman, a star, some sort of device, and what looks to be a vortex or portal. Outside the head is a yellow sky and a salmon-pink ground. There is some sort of control panel behind the head. An surrealist illustration depiction a large alien-like head in which there is a man and a woman, a star, some sort of device, and what looks to be a vortex or portal. Outside the head is a yellow sky and a salmon-pink ground. There is some sort of control panel behind the head.

Yaoting Wang’s illustration, Let Me Think.

Yaoting Wang’s illustration, Let Me Think.

Yaoting Wang’s (MFA 2023 Illustration as Visual Essay) surreal illustration, Let Me Think, received a gold award and will be on view alongside his poster design for the My Lens, My Land, a documentary about a Tibetan nomad who uses photography to capture traditions and threats to his homeland.

A watercolor painting of a close-up camera lens in which a map of sorts is reflected with animals, rivers, mountains, lakes, people, flowers, and even ceramics. This seems to be done on a very textured paper. A watercolor painting of a close-up camera lens in which a map of sorts is reflected with animals, rivers, mountains, lakes, people, flowers, and even ceramics. This seems to be done on a very textured paper.

Yaoting Wang’s movie poster for My Lens, My Land.

Yaoting Wang’s movie poster for My Lens, My Land.

An illustration of a girl in a striped shirt hugging a Chinese Dragon that has been shot by multiple arrows and bears other scratches. The background is red and there's a reflective pool at the bottom, where an eye peeks out. An illustration of a girl in a striped shirt hugging a Chinese Dragon that has been shot by multiple arrows and bears other scratches. The background is red and there's a reflective pool at the bottom, where an eye peeks out.

Allen Zhang’s illustration, Healing.

Allen Zhang’s illustration, Healing.

Allen Zhang’s (BFA 2025 Illustration) Healing was originally part of a thematic assignment at SVA during his junior year. It will be on view alongside three other works from his thesis project.

Artwork with watercolor and collage-like qualities. It depicts multiple horses and horse-drawn carriages manned by and transporting people. Artwork with watercolor and collage-like qualities. It depicts multiple horses and horse-drawn carriages manned by and transporting people.

Opening spread to Keith Negley’s picture book, The Running Machine.

Opening spread to Keith Negley’s picture book, The Running Machine.

The second installment of the exhibition, “Illustrators 67th Annual Exhibition – Part Two: Book, Editorial,” will feature work by Keith Negley (MFA 2013 Illustration as Visual Essay). Negley was awarded silver in the books category for The Running Machine, a picture book that tells the story of the person who invented the first bicycle. The show will also include a selection of portraits from his Oscar nomination series.


The exhibitions will also include work by Mocong “Mo” Yuan (BFA 2019 Animation), who was awarded gold in the animation category, R. Kikuo Johnson (BFA Comics), who was awarded gold in the editorial category, and almost 50 other SVA alumni and faculty members.


“Illustrators 67th Annual Exhibition–Part One: Advertising, Institutional, Uncommissioned Categories” will be displayed through Saturday, March 1. Part two, “Illustrators 67th Annual Exhibition – Part Two: Book, Editorial,” will be displayed Saturday, March 8 through Saturday, April 12. A reception will be held for “Illustrators 67th Annual Exhibition–Part One” on Friday, February 28. Admission is $10 for students and $15 for adults. The event is located at the Society’s headquarters at 128 East 63rd Street, between Lexington and Park Avenues.