Art for All: Celebrate Diversity in DesignVolume 21

Welcome back to our Diversity in Design series on Envato Tuts+. Discover four talented artists with inspiring styles you'll love.

4 Artists You Should Know: Diversity in Design

Celebrate
the work of these extraordinary artists. Each with their own unique
background, they draw inspiration from their culture and surroundings to
create phenomenal designs.

Angie Kang

Let's begin with traditional artist Angie Kang. An illustration student currently living in Rhode Island, Angie makes exquisite traditional portraits which breathe with life. Enjoy this look inside her incredibly intimate work.

See more in her portfolio and follow her on Instagram.

Antiquated Ideals

I was born in China, raised in California, and now am based in Rhode
Island where I study illustration and writing in the Brown-RISD Dual
Degree Program.

Nighttime Rituals

I use my art-making as a
form of record-keeping, a means of collecting memories all within the confines of the painting
surface.

In examining the pauses in life, a variety of narratives emerge.
As a Chinese-American artist, I also seek to integrate my multiple
identities in my own artistic practice. My heritage informs my art not
just in subject matter but also in stylistic choices, formalistic
qualities, and varying approaches to work.

Dyad of Dryads

Self Portrait

I’m enamored with a range of styles! Recently, I’ve been
particularly moved by illustrators such as Lisbeth Zwerger, Charlotte
Ager, Rebecca Dautremer, and fine artists such as Kyle Staver and Paula
Rego.

Zwerger has been my idol for a long time; her compositions are
impeccably designed and her drawings are delicate but full.

Mike Ham

Our next feature is the talented Mike Ham, a multidisciplinary artist based in New York. Inspired by his love of music and his favorite artists, he creates intricately detailed paintings in both traditional and digital mediums.

See more in his portfolio and follow him on Instagram.

Digital Illustration

I'm a self taught artist based in NY. I lived here my whole life. Besides art I played football, lacrosse and
also wrestled. I love music—more of an old soul, and I love to travel and meet
new people.

Custom Painted Caps

Art has always given me the
freedom of just being myself and tuning out the outside world for a bit.
It’s also relaxing to just create and have fun doing it.

Always loved to
draw since I was little, I'd have to say that the early inspiration
definitely came from cartoons I used to watch. Dragon Ball Z, Yu Yu
Hakusho, Dexter’s lab, Courage the Cowardly Dog—shows like that to name a
few. They sparked my imagination and I always loved to draw my favorite
characters.

Custom Painted Slides

Traditional Painting

As far as styles I love manga and comic art, but I also have a real love
for hyper realism. For me I like to play in between realism and
animated styles. Still discovering more of what I like but I think I’m
at a good point right now and just getting in more practice.

Noa Denmon

Celebrate the elegance of black beauty with our next artist, Noa Denmon. This Philadelphia-based illustrator creates vibrant portraits and editorial work of inspirational figures and beloved artists.

See more in her portfolio and follow her on Instagram.

Jessica Williams

I am a Philadelphia based illustrator and a graduate from the University
of the Arts with a BFA in Illustration, and an MAT in Arts and
Teaching.  I love patterns, pups, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a great cup of coffee and all spicy foods.

Experience: Lucille Clifton

I strive to create femme, colorful illustrations, influenced by my
experience as a black woman and creator. I am inspired by elements of
nostalgia and stories exchanged between beloved friends and family.

Experience: Maya Angelou

In These Times: Editorial

Some of my biggest influences at the moment are Jillian Tamaki, Laura
Callaghan, Carson Ellis, Manjitt Thapp, Victo Ngai, and Joo Hee Yoon.

I look to these artists as examples of excellent storytelling, and
admirable work ethic. They are constantly creating. I wish to live my
life in a very similar way.

Alice Bejarano

Our final feature belongs to Alice Bejarano, a talented designer and creator currently living in Panama City. Featuring phenomenally fashionable digital collages, Alice's work showcases a stellar style inspired by fashion and more.

See more in their portfolio and follow them on Instagram.

Digital Collage

I'm a Venezuelan artist who's been living in Panama City, Panama for
the last 4 years. Studying communication in college, I started getting really into art and graphic design, so I
taught myself to use Photoshop while devouring many art books.

A few
years later, I started a fashion blog
that opened many doors for me in the fashion world in Venezuela.

Zeus

I am very inspired by fashion in general. I think the mixing of
patterns, cuts, textures and different styles is a process that I find
very interesting and where I draw lots of inspiration from. I also love
nostalgia a lot; I'm obsessed with the Memphis Design Group, brutalism
and the overall 80s aesthetic.

Digital Collage

Digital Collage

I think I get a lot of inspiration from artists who have a
"neo-japanese aesthetic" or a "retro fashion" vibe to their work.
I
love Hajime Sorayama, I was obsessed with him as a kid—Lisa Frank too. Very recently I discovered the art of Tyler Dale
and I fell completely in love with it, I love minimalism.

Celebrate Diversity! Send Us Your Favorite Artists!

Help us find more incredible artists from different backgrounds to share with our audience! Tweet me your recommendations at MelloNieves or use the hashtags #artforall and #tutsplusdesign on Twitter and Instagram. You never know, we may just feature you in our next article!

Love this selection? See more from this series:

• 
  Global Influences
  
  
  Art for All: Celebrate Diversity in Design—Volume 20
  
  
  Melody Nieves


• 
  Global Influences
  
  
  Art for All: Celebrate Diversity in Design—Volume 19
  
  
  Melody Nieves

I'd
like to extend a warm thank you to all the artists who participated in
this feature. Feel free to see more of their work in the links below:

• Angie Kang


• Mike Ham


• 
  Noa Denmon
  
  


• 
  Alice Bejarano