World Illustration Awards 2023 announces shortlist of incredible illustrators

Over 5,000 entries to this year's World Illustration Awards have been whittled to a shortlist of 200 incredible artists. We look at some of the contenders for this year's prize, with all hopeful entrants available to view via a new online showcase.

Written By: Dom Carter

6 July 2023

Presented by The Association of Illustrators in partnership with the Directory of Illustration (USA), the World Illustration Awards are an annual celebration of the best talent in the field of illustration. Split into ten categories, including Advertising, Editorial and Children's Books, the World Illustration Awards crown 20 category winners, with two overall winners selected by a 30-strong jury in a special ceremony in September.

This year has seen over 5,000 pieces of work submitted for consideration across 84 countries. Five hundred of these were recently selected for the longlist, with today seeing this batch narrowed down even further to just 200.

Among these entrants, four will scoop up a cross-category award, including the SAA Award for an underrepresented student, The Directory of Illustration Award for a professional artist, the AOI Award for best member entry, and an Innovation Award for the most cutting-edge project.

Rachel Hill, CEO of the Association of Illustrators, says: "We are delighted to announce the 2023 World Illustration Awards shortlist. This year's entries showcase the impressive talent and creativity of illustrators around the globe.

"The shortlist showcases an impressive range of styles, mediums, and contexts, highlighting the incredible value that illustration can bring to a project. The selected works are not only visually appealing but also carry powerful messages and tell compelling stories.

"The World Illustration Awards champions the best in contemporary illustration and aims to promote the art form to a wider audience. We hope this year's selection inspires commissioners, illustrators, and the public. Join us in celebrating the 2023 shortlist and the highly skilled illustrators behind the work."

The full list of illustrators will be available to view on the new shortlist showcase. But to give you some creative inspiration, here's a quick look at some projects that caught our eye.

These are just our personal highlights, though, and plenty more amazing illustrations are waiting to be seen on the World Illustration Awards website. We wish all the contenders good luck and cannot wait to see who comes out on top in each category. Fingers crossed, everyone!