Yi Chin Chen is a Taiwanese multi-disciplinary creator based in Brooklyn, New York. She worked with magazine publishers and non-profit organizations as a graphic designer in Taipei, Taiwan and received her MFA in Communications Design from Pratt Institute in 2017. She is now pursuing her passion for illustration in MFA Illustration as Visual Essay at SVA.

In New York City, art is everywhere. The creative energy is in the streets, decorated in neon lights. It shines in Broadway shows, both on the stage and backstage, and it blooms in an artist’s paintings in their studio and a gallery. The artistic spirit makes NYC unique and dynamic.

Carly Larsson is an illustrator based in Brooklyn, New York. She received her BFA from Pratt Institute and is currently an MFA candidate at SVA. Her illustrations have been exhibited at the Mystic Seaport Museum and UWE Bristol and published in The Washington Post.

This piece was inspired by the vibrant energy of NYC’s queer dance parties. I wanted to capture the colors, patterns, and positive, inclusive energy of the burlesque scene.

Jiawen Chen was born in Guangzhou, China. She is now pursuing her MFA degree in Illustration at SVA.

I’m drawing a museum in New York. I have always believed that all the collections in museums are alive, and that they will sneak away when you are not paying attention.

Danlin Zhang is a New York-based illustrator from China. She graduated from MICA with an Illustration BFA and is currently enrolled at SVA in MFA Illustration. She was the winner of the 2019 Society of Illustrators Scholarship Competition. Danlin does editorial, lifestyle advertising, picture books, and is willing to take on any challenge. She enjoys traveling, and her experiences are full of fascinating and vivid memories of world cultures, which continually inspire her.

The inspiration for this piece is from a famous scene in Singin’ in the Rain. I focused on expressing the magic that Broadway has made me feel. Using this scene from Singin’ in the Rain, I hope to convey a feeling of joy to audiences.

Emilia Chin is an illustrator from Taiwan. She is pursuing her MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay at SVA. Her works are inspired by colors, patterns, and observations from life.

New York City has diverse cultures. People come to New York seeking different opportunities. NYC is not only an intersection of various cultures, but a bridge of communication between peoples.

Dora Wang is a New York-based illustrator and artist. She is originally from China. She attended Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt), majoring in illustration for her bachelor’s degree. She is currently attending the Illustration as Visual Essay graduate program at SVA. She has received awards from the Society of Illustrators, 3x3, Applied Arts, Society of Illustrators LA, Communication Arts shortlist, and Creative Quarterly. Her work is in the permanent collection of the Godine Library at MassArt.

Museums are some of my favorite places in New York. I always go to museums to find inspiration. I also like seeing the different visitors in a museum. Sometimes, I see a class group, parents with their baby, or an old man standing in front of a painting, and I always feel touched seeing people’s reactions to the art.

Karlotta Freier was born in Berlin, Germany. After working as a tattoo artist and then costume designer, she studied illustration in Hamburg, Germany. She had several exhibitions and has been published in The New Yorker and The New York Times. Currently, she is taking on her master’s degree at the School of Visual Arts while also continuing her freelance work.

I was inspired by the people that I see on my daily commute to Manhattan. I open myself up to feeling that all those people have individual lives with goals and hopes. When the train reaches the bridge, I get overwhelmed by the soft beauty of a day in New York that is just about to start.

Peter Phobia is a New York-based illustrator. Having spent most of his teens on a skateboard, he is deeply influenced by pop culture and everyday life observations. He has worked with clients such as Absolut, eBay, Samsung, Rimowa, i-D, Medium, Guayaki, and VICE, to name a few.

Inspired by Henri Matisse’s Dance, this piece is a contemporary take on the synergy between dance and fine arts. New York Dance talks about a vibrant city, that not only is the home of Matisse’s Dance, but the art capital of the world.

Grace J. Kim is an illustrator living and working in New York City. With her delicate and serene visuals, she hopes her works act as a therapeutic device for viewers. She received her BFA from Pratt Institute in Communications Design and is currently pursuing an MFA in Illustration at School of Visual Arts.

When I think about New York’s art and culture scene, I think of it being approachable and accessible. In this piece, I drew people, including a person who is visually impaired, families, and a person with a wheelchair, all experiencing art—proving it’s for everyone.

Qinyu Zheng is an illustrator from Beijing, China. She received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Central Academy of Fine Arts. She participated in the “I Will Be Your Eyes” artist group exhibition at the Shanghai Art Plus Gallery in 2016. Furthermore, she is the illustrator of “Professor Liu Xinwu Talks About A Dream of Red Mansion” and also contributed to “The Stories of Antiques”.

This work is focused on both sides of a typical Broadway stage, with focus on actors both on and off stage. The off-stage dancers are mentally preparing for an exciting performance, while the on-stage dancers are showing off their most beautiful dance postures. Thus, the illustration displays a fresh take on the performing arts and is a celebration of a distinctly New York City cultural event.

Simiao Wang is a Chinese illustrator and graphic designer now based in New York City. She received her BFA at Emily Carr University of Art and Design in Vancouver, Canada, and still works with many clients in Vancouver. Now, in her MFA in Illustration as Visual Essay program at the School of Visual Arts, most of her work is inspired by mythology, and she believes every artwork tells a story.

I saw a girl singing on the subway who became the inspiration for this painting. The image depicts a little girl singing on the subway. Her dream is to be a big star. The phantom-like singer behind her represents her dream.

Hui Ma is a Chinese illustrator and graphic designer living in New York. She draws whatever and whenever. She is mostly inspired by stories related to people of color, gender minorities, and her own dreams. When she is not drawing, she enjoys traveling, watching an old movie, spending time with friends, and petting her demanding cat.

This work is inspired by the architecture and interior of Radio City Music Hall, which was built in the 1930’s and has been an iconic landmark of New York City since then. I imagined the beautiful chandelier as a performer’s head piece, and she is looking directly at the audience, inviting them to come on to the stage.