Cover Designers and Illustrators

Illustrators in New York City: 8 Talented Artists for Hire

by 30 DayBooks

In the bustling heart of creativity that is New York City, a vibrant community of talented book illustrators is transforming the literary landscape, one stroke at a time. These artists, with their unique styles and innovative techniques, breathe life into words, creating visual narratives that captivate readers of all ages. From children’s books to graphic novels, their illustrations add depth and dimension to stories, making them come alive in the reader’s imagination.

In this post, we’ll take you on a journey through the studios of the top book illustrators in NYC, showcasing their extraordinary talent and the magic they create on paper. Let’s dive in!

1. Mary Ann Smith

Mary Ann Smith, known as a professional book cover designer and illustrator, brings over 20 years of experience to the table. Her portfolio is diverse, covering genres such as women’s fiction, rom-com, wellness, and career guides. Mary Ann’s work is not limited to design; she also offers illustration services for select book covers. Her clients include major and independent publishers, as well as university presses. With a BFA from Parson’s School of Design, Mary Ann’s expertise lies in creating covers that resonate with the intended audience, ensuring that the visual representation of the book aligns perfectly with its content. Her commitment to delivering high-quality, creative, and unique designs makes her a top choice for authors and publishers alike.

Cover design and illustration of a couple looking at a painting by Mary Ann Smith, for "Don't Go Stealing My Heart" by Kelly Siskind.
Cover design with an illustration of fruit and veg balanced on a piece of cake for Jessie Inchauspé's 'Glucose Revolution'. Created by NYC illustrator Mary Ann Smith.
Cover design and illustration by Mary Ann Smith, for Rebekah Millet's 'Julia Monroe Begins Again'. The cover shows two empty chairs and a pink table, a man walking with a coffee in hand, and a woman sitting down.

2. Jeff Huang

Jeff Huang is a New York City-based illustrator and Art Director with over a decade of experience. He has worked with renowned brands and agencies, creating compelling illustrations and visuals. Jeff specializes in the Fantasy, YA, and Sci-Fi genres, and has had the pleasure of creating covers for popular YA trilogies like “Snow Like Ashes” and “Ice Like Fire” by Sara Raasch, and even Stephen King‘s “Under The Dome”. His work is not just limited to book covers; he also offers his expertise in creating illustrations for various other mediums. Jeff’s dedication to his craft and his ability to create captivating visuals make him a top choice for authors and publishers in New York City.

Illustration of a maze by Jeff Huang, an illustrator based in NYC.
Surreal illustration of paintings hanging from the sky in a dirt road with puddles, surrounded by fields. Made by Jeff Huang.
Surreal illustration of a circular shape standing on the sea, split into yin and yang halves. Through one, the viewer can see a wintry forest, and through the other, a green, sunlit scene by a stream. Illustrated by Jeff Huang.

3. Fanesha Fabre

Fanesha Fabre is a Brooklyn-based multimedia artist whose work is heavily influenced by her Latin culture. Her dynamic illustrations capture the unique experiences of being a Latina living in the city, brought to life with bold, vibrant colors and a distinct perspective. Fanesha’s portfolio showcases her exceptional ability to turn imagination into art, making her an asset to any project or collaboration. Her diverse background and passion for creativity are evident in each of her works, as she skillfully captures the essence of her surroundings with her exceptional artistic ability. Fanesha’s commitment to her craft and unique perspective make her a top choice for authors seeking a book illustrator in NYC.

Cover design of 'Sueños de la calle' by Jeremy Melendez, made by NYC illustrator and cover designer Fanesha Fabre. The cover depicts a young Afro-Latino man standing in a street, in front of a Puerto Rican flag and a deli shop front.
Illustration of Junko Tabei, a mountaineer, created by NYC illustrator Fanesha Fabre. The mountaineer is seen smiling and has a pickaxe balanced on one shoulder.
A warm-hued illustration of a Black girl in a yellow tracksuit floating in space, surrounded by pink clouds and green planets. The illustration is surrounded by text reading DEAR ME, TAKE UP SPACE. Illustration by Fanesha Fabre.
Poster-style illustration by Fanesha Fabre, an NYC illustrator. The corner's four posters are adorned with red leaves, and the centre reads 'In case no one has told you, you're doing great' set on a coral background.
Illustration of a diverse group of children and young people sitting cn the floor of a bookshop, listening to a reading. The shop hangs multiple flags from various countries on its back wall. Illustration by Fanesha Fabre.
Illustration of a blissful Black girl throwing her head back laughing. She has beautiful, large hair tinted pink, and the background contains foliage and text reading 'Growing thru it!' Illustration by Fanesha Fabre.

4. Tess Lockey

Meet Tess Lockey, a Filipino-British illustrator based in Brooklyn, New York, who specializes in creating bold illustrations for books dealing with abstract themes such as love, spirituality, identity, joy, and belonging. A graduate with honors from Ringling College of Art and Design, Tess has worked across various mediums including advertising, animation, and book design. Her philosophy is “Less, but better,” focusing on distilling a story into its essence and creating modern designs that not only grab attention but also resonate with heart. Tess’s vibrant and modern illustrations, coupled with her dedication to capturing the essence of a story, make her an excellent choice for authors seeking a unique visual representation for their books.

Black-and-white illustration of a man wearing a backpack, hiking. Illustrated by Tess Lockey.
Minimalist, hand-drawn illustrated cover by Tess Lockey, for Paulo Coelho's 'The Alchemist'. The shapes are abstract, but there is a keyhole emanating light next to the title.
Example of a comic book page illustrated by Tess Lockey.
People of all shapes, sizes, and colors stretching this way and that, resulting in a funky motif. Illustrated by Tess Lockey.
Abstract illustrated cover for Roald Dahl's The B.F.G., made by Tess Lockey. The design consists of abstract blue, white and black shapes.

5. Rodney Hazard

Rodney Hazard is a professional graphic designer and digital illustrator based in New York City, with over 13 years of experience in the field. Specializing in print design, book covers, and album covers, Rodney has worked as a designer and art director in editorial, creating distinctive book and magazine covers, as well as interiors. His portfolio showcases his versatility and attention to detail, making him a reliable choice for authors seeking top-notch design and production services. Rodney’s work is known for its unique and influential style, and he is committed to delivering designs that capture the essence of the author’s vision, making him a valuable asset to any project.

Minimalist illustrated cover for an album, showing a small icon of steps under the sun set against a gradient background ranging from yellow to dark red. Created by NYC illustrator Rodney Hazard.
Illustration of a person wearing bulky clothes, surrounded by floating blue and pink shapes, with greenery growing out of their arms and legs. The background is dreamy pink. Illustrated by Rodney Hazard.
Illustration of a dark silhouette with dreadlocks against a brightly colored, desert-like background. The person is wearing large, reflective glasses colored light blue. Illustration by Rodney Hazard.

6. Maki Yamaguchi

Meet Maki Yamaguchi, a Japanese award-winning illustrator based in New York City. With over a decade of experience, Maki specializes in editorial and middle-grade books, bringing stories to life with her vibrant and quirky illustrations. Trained in a fine art school, she uses traditional media like watercolor, acrylic, pencil, and ink to create her pieces. Maki’s work ranges from detailed, encyclopedia-like sketches to expressive paintings. Her illustrations have been recognized by the Society of Illustrators, the AOI World Illustration Awards, and Communication Arts, among others. With a passion for creating visuals that help stories communicate with readers, Maki is a top choice for authors seeking unique and outstanding illustrations.

Cover of The Writer's Chronicle magazine, illustrated by NYC-based illustrator Maki Yamaguchi. The drawing shoes a writer sitting down with a notebook open on her lap, and a huge hand descending from above to write in it.
Illustration by Maki Yamaguchi in black and white, showing a woman or young girl's silhouette looking out of a window onto a city street.
Illustration by Maki Yamaguchi of a blonde archer taking aim, surrounded by a flurry of birds of all sizes and colors.
Illustration of an artist's workspace, showing a chair and desk in front of a window. The window looks out to a courtyard of greenery and arches.
Bird's eye view illustration by Maki Yamaguchi of a magical-looking stream and a small boat with a fisherman on it.
Magazine cover art by Maki Yamaguchi for Tin House, showing an humongous octopus's curling tentacles and a tiny female figure in a red bikini balancing on a surfboard on the top tentacle.

7. Larsson McSwain

Larsson McSwain is a Brooklyn-based artist and designer specializing in children’s publishing. With a fresh yet familiar style, Larsson’s work is a blend of classic and modern, always striving for elegant simplicity through composition, shape, and color. His illustrations provide unique solutions that cater to each project’s specific needs. Currently working at Candlewick Press, Larsson designs book covers, interiors, and other materials to visually bring books to life. His freelance work extends beyond book design to painting, doodling, and printmaking. With a BFA in Illustration from Ringling College of Art and Design, and having worked at Random House Children’s Books, Larsson’s expertise and passion for creating visuals that resonate with readers make him a top choice for authors seeking book illustration services in New York City.

Abstract-style illustration of a Black woman's face looking up, created by Larsson McSwain.
Illustration of two dogs facing in opposite directions, set against orange and green backgrounds. Made by Larsson McSwain.
A writer with glasses writes on a small table at the centre of this illustration, surrounded on every side by clouds of seagulls. Illustrated by Larsson McSwain.

8. Jason Arias

Jason Arias is a New York-based designer who brings 14 years of experience in designing book covers with versatility and imagination. His impressive client list includes HarperCollins, S&S, Scribner, Timber Press, Verso, and W. W. Norton, among others. Jason’s work spans across genres such as memoirs, literary fiction, historical nonfiction, mystery, popular science, and self-improvement. He aims to create covers that are striking at first glance, yet reveal the author’s deeper themes upon closer inspection. His design process is thorough and collaborative, ensuring that the final product is a true reflection of the author’s vision. Jason’s expertise and commitment to quality make him an excellent choice for anyone seeking top-tier book illustration services in New York City.

Illustrated book cover for The Hollow Beast. Created by Jason Arias, this cover foregrounds blocky typography against a maze-like illustration resembling a human fingerprint.
Illustrated cover of The Singing Sands by Josephine Tey. The cover artist and illustrator is Jason Arias, and the cover shows a dark figure with a round hat against a bright yellow background.
Cover art for Time Shelter by Georgi Gospodivov, illustrated by Jason Arias. The illustration is abstract but split into indigo and pastel orange, showing a pair of glasses or binoculars resting on a person's nose.

These illustrators, each with their unique style and creative vision, truly represent the vibrant and diverse artistic scene of New York City. Whether you’re an author looking to bring your words to life or a reader appreciating the art that enhances your favorite books, these talented individuals continue to shape, color, and define the world of literature with every stroke.