Jiawen Chen

Based in Guangzhou, Jiawen grew up fascinated by animators such as the great Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. She studied for her BFA in Illustration at the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Art, and then went to New York for two years where she received an MFA from the School of Visual Arts. An international award-winning artist, Jiawen enjoys capturing subtle emotions in her work, and commentating on society from a woman’s perspective.

Approach

Working digitally, Jiawen uses linework to render her characters and the key elements of the setting, using lighting and contrast to direct the viewer’s eye with a bright yet restrained colour palette.

Style

Reminiscent of top-end graphic novels such as Saga or Fables, Jiawen’s artwork is atmospheric and conceptual – capturing nuances of our emotions in a thoughtful yet powerful way. Her unique handling of transparency and highlights brings a heightened sense of the unreal to her work.

Awards

2020 – AOI World Illustration Awards – Winner, Innovation 2020 – AOI World Illustration Awards – Winner, SAA Award for New Talent

Client list

Jiawen’s clients include LA Times, Bilibili, Comic Fans, Shanghai-QiTian