Lily Qian is an award-winning illustrator based in Brooklyn, New York. She has worked with a wide range of clients in editorial, publishing, advertising, children’s books, surface, fashion, and beauty. She has a strong interest in storytelling for editorials and books.
Lily is passionate about traditional analog techniques and digital integration. She takes inspiration from experimenting and exploring accidents when mixing different materials and textured backgrounds. Aside from storytelling, she loves playing with abstract shapes to create a moment of surprise in her illustrations.
Lily is an adjunct Illustration & Interactive Media Department instructor at The Fashion Institute of Technology. She was a judge for the Society of Illustrators’ 63rd annual competition, the SPD-U student competition, and the FIT x Bulgari college-wide student competition mentor. Her work has been recognized by American Illustration and the Society of Illustrators.
In 2024, The Los Angeles Times staff was nominated as a Pulitzer Prize Finalist in Breaking News Reporting with illustration series by Lily. She’s been invited to be a guest speaker at Apple, School of Visual Arts, Pratt Institute, Fashion Institute of Technology, Alberta College of Art & Design, and the College for Creative Studies.
When she's not working on assignments, Lily is learning to play the piano, shoot arrows, and organize an illustration ping-pong club. She lives and works in Brooklyn with her lazy cat assistant, Walnut.
Interview with Girls Club Asia.
Thank you!
To stay up to date with latest work, follow @lilyqian_ on instagram
For inquiries or additional work samples, contact:
Email: lily@lily-qian.com
Secondary email: lilyqian.nyc@gmail.com
Tel: +1 718 755 7622
Photo by James Chororos
Select Clients
Editorial, Publishing:
Apple, Audible, Harper Collins, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, The Nation, Foreign Affairs, Poetry Foundation, The Pulitzer Center, WBUR Boston NPR, Boston University, Teen Vogue, Refinery29, Medium, Huff Post, Millie Magazine, The Ringer, Eater, Punch, Switchyard Magazine, The Assembly NC, Bitch Media, Edible Manhattan, Edible Brooklyn, Baldor Foods Mag, Small Batch Books
Corporate, Advertising:
Adidas, Atout France, City Parks Foundation (NYC Sumerstage), Moleskine, Samsung, Target, Campari, Delta, Dream Hotel, Equinox, Lenovo, Mucinex, Baccarat Hotel, ATM, B&H Photo, The Art Institute, Others Trade for Hope, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, We the Barbarian, M Booth, DMA United, Happy Lucky, The Bromley Group, Factory PR, Universal Music Group, RCA Records
Fashion & Beauty
Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale's, Bottega Veneta, Brand Assembly, Calvin Klein Performance, Chloé, Christian Dior Couture-Beauty-Parfume, Cosabella, Covergirl, David Webb, DKNY, Elizabeth Arden, Erin Fetherston, Essie (US, Germany), Falconeri, Gabriella Hearst, Galeries Lafayette, Giorgio Armani, Hugo Boss, Intermix, Intimissimi, Ladurée, Land's end, La Prairie, L'Oréal, Lord & Taylor, Louis Vuitton, Macy's, Manhattan Cosmetics COTY (Germany), MaxMara, Milly, Neiman Marcus, NY&CO, Perry Ellis, Pomellato, REISS, Saks Fifth Avenue, Salvatore Ferragamo, Sephora, Sisley Cosmetics, Six:02, Skims, Theory, Tiffany & Co., VS Pink, Victoria's Secret
Awards & Honors
American Illustration 44, 43, 42, 41
Society of Illustrators 65, 66
Communication Arts 2023 shortlisted
Washington Post, Best of Illo 2022
LA Times, Best of Data 2023
2024 Pulitzer Finalist in Breaking News Reporting - Contributed illustration for the Staff of the Los Angeles Times: For urgent and thoughtful coverage of a Lunar New Year overnight shooting, demonstrating clear knowledge of and commitment to the local Asian communities.
Guest Lecturer
Apple Williamsburg NYC
SVA Illustration
Pratt Institute
Fashion Institute of Technology
CCS Industry EXPOsion
Alberta College of Art & Design
The Big Draw Festival
Competition Jury / Mentor
Jury for Society of Illustrators 63
FIT x Bulgari Student Design Competition Faculty Mentor 2023-2024
The Society of Publication Designers, SPD-U student design competition jury 2024
Interviews
Girls Club Asia
Ballpit Mag
Voyage LA
Shout out LA
Canvas Rebel
Art Review City
Brand Assembly
Format
Rockaway Beverages
Sunday Morning Stories
Others Trade for Hope
Overt NYC
Intermix
Shows
Gallery Nucleus SALUT! 10th Anniversary Coaster Art Show
Gallery Nucleus P.S. 9th Postcard show
Society of Illustrators 65 annual exhibition
Society of Illustrators 66 annual exhibition
Grumpy Bert's 8th & 9th Annual Red Envelope Show at Harman Projects Gallery
Book Announcement
Children's chapter book - A Cat in Central Park: Nine Lives is Just the Beginning, written by Carolyn Benson. The book is available for purchase at Barnes and Noble.
Book Reading Event
Fashion Institute of Technology - It’s a Kid’s World at FIT Childrenswear! Play, Imagine, Create presents: Storytime - A Cat in Central Park.
Wish list
Write and illustrate children's picture books.
Book covers.
Art books and playful forms.
Stop-motion and 2d animated short.
Traditional analog techniques.
Drawing, painting, and exhibit more.
Collaborate with musicians and writers.
Contribute more art for NYC.
Current obsession
不射之射 - Directed by Kihachirō Kawamoto (1988)
Ragnar Kjartansson, The Visitors (2012)
All images © Lily Qian 2025
All work NOT to be used for Artificial Intelligence