Leon Lee Selected for World Illustration Awards 2019 Shortlist

Los Angeles, CA, May 16, 2019 --(PR.com)-- Los Angeles-based artist Leon Lee has been selected for the World Illustration Awards (WIA) 2019 Shortlist. The World Illustration Awards are the most prestigious annual juried competition, open to illustrators from all over the world. With over 3,600 submissions received from 68 different countries, Leon Lee’s work was distinguished among the top 200 entries reflecting the best in contemporary illustration today. In partnership with the Association of Illustrators (The AOI) and Directory of Illustration, work from this year’s shortlisted illustrators will be showcased in a major exhibition at the Somerset House in Central London from July 11, 2019 to July 28, 2019.

Lee’s “Experimental” category submission, titled "The Life of Edward Tulane," is a series of illustrations based off the book, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo. Edward Tulane, a porcelain rabbit, is a cherished toy who finds himself on an extraordinary journey of love, loss and redemption. Lee re-imagined the world of this protagonist using graphite, traditional, and digital mediums to evoke the emotions and whimsical fantasy of DiCamillo’s tale. Elements from Lee’s own life - including childhood memories, artistic inspirations, and trinkets picked up in his travels - were incorporated in each illustration, resulting in an impressive study in contrasts, color, lighting, and intricate detail.

"The Life of Edward Tulane” will be showcased in the World Illustration Awards 2019 Exhibition held in Somerset House’s Embankment Galleries, among 200 other works exploring what illustration means today and how it will evolve in the future. This exhibition will tour the United Kingdom into 2020. Winners for Category and Overall works will be announced in a July Awards Ceremony at the Somerset House.

For more information, contact Christine Joo (christineherajoo@gmail.com).

About Leon Lee
Leon Lee is a Malaysian-born illustrator and visual development artist based in Los Angeles, CA. Drawing inspiration from his travels and the beauty of nature, Leon’s work showcases remarkable skill and variety, varying from vibrant En plein air landscapes to whimsical worlds of fantasy. He enjoys telling stories through his environment designs, color and lighting. He is currently working as a background and prop designer/painter on The Tom and Jerry Show. Leon’s work has been featured in galleries and exhibitions across the nation, including Illustration West, Warrior Painters, the Post-It Show, CTN Animation Expo, and others. He was recognized as a professional illustration finalist by the Society of Illustrators during Illustrators 60 Annual. Leon has also spoken about his craft at various institutions, including the ArtCenter College of Design and the Society of Illustrators, Los Angeles. He was recently interviewed by VoyageLA, and will be a featured artist in several upcoming exhibitions, including a Studio Ghibli Tribute Gallery, CTN Animation Expo 2019, and more. Leon received his BFA in Illustration/Entertainment Arts from the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, CA. He is an active member of the Society of Illustrators LA, Society of Illustrators NY, ASIFA Hollywood, Women in Animation, Comic-Con International, and the Creative Talent Network.

About World Illustration Awards (WIA)
The WIA are presented by The Association of Illustrators in partnership with the Directory of Illustration (USA) with Somerset House as the exhibition partner. There are eight award categories including Advertising; Books, category sponsored by NoBrow; Children’s Books, category sponsored by Walker Books; and Editorial. Each category has a New Talent and Professional winner, with two Overall Winners announced on the awards night in June. This year, there are also cross-category awards, such as the SAA Awards for an unrepresented Student, The DI Award for a professional artist and the AOI Award for the best member entry. The two overall winners will be awarded cash prizes. The AOI has been holding an annual illustration competition for over 45 years.