Internationally recognized artist and author Jillian Tamaki (BDes ’03, VCD) will be awarded an Honorary Master of Fine Arts degree at Alberta University of the Arts’ (AUArts) 2025 convocation ceremony on May 28.
Currently based in Toronto, Jillian Tamaki grew up in Calgary and graduated from the Alberta College of Art and Design in 2003. She has built a varied and influential career as a professional artist and educator at The New School and School of Visual Arts in New York City.
Tamaki is a sought-after illustrator of comics, picture books, and editorial illustrations. Her clients include National Geographic, The New Yorker, The New York Times, and The Guardian, amongst others. She is a multiple gold medal winner from the Society of Illustrators and the recipient of two Governor General Awards for Illustration. Currently, her collected webcomic, SuperMutant Magic Academy, is being adapted for television.
Jillian Tamaki is especially known for her ongoing collaborations with her cousin Mariko Tamaki. Together, they created the graphic novel This One Summer, which won a Caldecott Honor in 2015. Their latest co-creation is Roaming, which was published in 2023.
Selected Awards
Governor General’s Award (2018, 2014) / Caldecott Honour (2015) / Printz Award (2015) / Society of Illustrators Gold Medal / Eisner Award / NYTimes Best Illustrated Children’s Books / Society of Publication Designers / Best American Comics / American Illustration / Doug Wright Award / Ignatz Award /
Partial Client List
The New York Times / The New Yorker / Disney / National Geographic / Penguin Random House / MoMA / Cartoon Network / Marvel / WIRED / Washington Post / Folio Society / House of Anansi / Chronicle Books/ New York Magazine / MTA / Esquire / The Guardian / The Independent UK / CBC /The Atlantic / Abrams Books / The Walrus / Nickelodeon
