A new generation of Chinese illustrators is revolutionizing the global art scene by blending ancient traditions with cutting-edge technology, creating mesmerizing works that bridge Eastern and Western cultures. These talented artists, many represented by the London and Shanghai-based agency Caper Illustration, are challenging preconceived notions about Chinese illustration as a single style, instead showcasing diverse approaches that span from surrealism to street culture.
Enle Li stands at the forefront of this movement as a visual artist and animation director who divides his time between New York and Tokyo. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts, Li transforms geometric forms into compelling narratives, creating abstract worlds that balance playfulness with poetry. His typographical animations pulse with life, evoking childhood nostalgia through gentle absurdity, while his motion graphics deconstruct and reassemble visual elements into unexpected stories. Between 2019 and 2023, Li served as an instructor at the School of Visual Arts, mentoring emerging artists while collaborating with major global brands including Apple, Google, Nike, Tiffany & Co., Spotify, and UNIQLO.
Peter Zhang, known professionally as Currynew, brings the vibrant energy of pop culture to life through his Shanghai-based studio. His work masterfully fuses music, gaming, fashion, and street culture into bold, kinetic illustrations that practically vibrate with energy. Drawing from his advertising background, Currynew achieves a delicate balance between chaos and clarity, producing art that communicates as effectively as it captivates. His fearless, youthful approach has attracted high-profile clients including Gucci, Apple, Nike, Coca-Cola, Reebok, and McDonald's, creating illustrations that command attention and stop viewers mid-scroll.
In stark contrast to Currynew's energetic approach, Laomo Wang offers serenity in the digital age through her Changzhou-based practice. Her delicate illustrations draw inspiration from traditional Chinese ink painting, blending soft color washes over rice-paper textures to create intimate, meditative compositions. Each piece serves as a quiet breath in an increasingly busy world, with Wang viewing creativity as a form of self-exploration that shows in every brushstroke. Her timeless yet contemporary work has found favor with clients including Heineken, Penguin Random House, and GQ Live Magazine, proving that subtlety can be as powerful as spectacle in modern illustration.
AMAO brings unbridled joy to her multidisciplinary practice as an illustrator, motion designer, and VR artist based in Shanghai. After graduating from Osaka University of Arts and working in Japan, she returned to China to establish her studio MOU, which specializes in illustration, animation, and art direction. Her work features confident shapes, vibrant colors, and lively characters that transform everyday life into visual celebrations filled with humor and palpable joy. This emotionally exuberant approach, combined with technical precision, has attracted major clients including Apple, Google, Gucci, Starbucks, The Independent, and McDonald's.
Dong Qiu takes a different approach by reinterpreting classical Chinese painting through contemporary eyes from her Shanghai studio. She crafts cinematic, myth-laden scenes filled with delicate lines and rich colors, using recurring motifs of girls, hands, and flowing forms to create pieces that feel both intimate and expansive. Her compositions successfully bridge ancient folklore with modern imagination, blending classical aesthetics with fantastical elements to create artwork that is simultaneously timeless, mysterious, and richly ornate. This innovative approach has attracted clients including Walt Disney, Swatch, Lenovo, Oreo, HarperCollins, and Penguin Press.
From her base in Guangzhou, Jiawen Chen creates dreamlike, surreal worlds characterized by dramatic perspectives, unexpected compositions, and striking color palettes. Her cinematic visual narratives draw viewers into symbolic, futuristic imagery that transforms abstract concepts into captivating visual stories filled with tension and depth. Chen's imaginative, emotional work has found success with prestigious clients including Apple, HarperCollins, Harvard Business Review, LA Times, and Morning Brew, establishing her as a master of boundary-pushing, story-driven illustration.
Raven Jiang, now based in New York, creates illustrations that unfold with symphonic complexity. Her work combines geometric precision with expressive storytelling, translating human emotion into visual form with remarkable elegance and rhythm. Each composition carefully balances structure with artistry, guiding viewers through layered, harmonious narratives that feel both designed and deeply felt. This sophisticated approach has earned her work with prestigious publications including The New Yorker, The New York Times, Bloomberg Markets, Barron's, and Fast Company.
Zaoyu Lin rounds out this remarkable group from his Chengdu base, bringing myth, magic, and vibrant color together in playful micro-worlds. Drawing inspiration from both Eastern folklore and Western artists like Moebius, his crisp lines and high-saturation palettes create whimsical, joyful scenes populated by characters full of personality. His work successfully blurs the boundaries between reality and fantasy with a distinctive, energetic style that has attracted clients including Apple, McDonald's, Shake Shack, Condé Nast, and The Journal Magazine.
Collectively, these eight artists represent the diverse landscape of contemporary Chinese illustration, proving that artistic expression knows no geographical boundaries. Their work demonstrates how traditional techniques can be reimagined for modern audiences, creating a visual language that speaks to global communities while maintaining cultural authenticity. Through agencies like Caper Illustration, which specializes in bringing Asian contemporary culture to international markets, these artists continue to expand the definition of what Chinese illustration can be in the 21st century.
