Overall review of the competition
This is the announcement of the award-winning works of the "JIA Illustration Award 2025", a global illustration competition.
Examination method
The judges are consisted of 5 artists, Ms.Ekaterina Borodacheva (Russia), M. Max Liu (USA), Ms. Moon Q(Japan), Ms. Nadiia Zhelieznova (UAE), and Ms. Yimin Wang (China).
Points are given to each judge, 10 points for the 1 best applicant, 8 points for the 2nd best applicants, 6 points for the 5 applicants, 4 points for the 10applicants, 2 points for 15 applicants,and 1 point for 20 applicants.
The points put in by the five judges were totaled, and the winners of each award were decided in order of the artists with the most points.
Overall review
Ekaterina Borodacheva
This is my first time serving as a jury member for such a large-scale and prestigious competition. And it has been a truly exciting experience! I would like to express my gratitude to the JIA Illustration Award for giving me this unique opportunity. This honor is both a privilege and a responsibility.
Also, I would like to thank all the participants. Their willingness to share their most valuable asset - their art - is truly a generous gift.
The International Illustration Competition is a cultural exchange that brings people from different parts of the world together. It helps us to understand each other better and promotes mutual understanding. Throughout history, mankind has tried to create a universal language, such as Esperanto, Volapuk, Ido, etc., but these attempts have all failed. Only the language of art can truly be called an international medium of communication.
This year's competition saw some truly outstanding works from the participants. These works were strong, original, and relevant, and they showed that the art world is always moving forward. It is constantly evolving, valuing tradition while also being open to new ideas and experiments. It is full of talented and passionate artists who ask questions and seek answers through their work. In this world, there is a "quiet harbor" for those who need it, as well as "extreme currents" for those willing to take risks. Everyone can find a place here.
I would like to extend my warmest wishes to the participants of the JIA Illustration Award 2025. May you continue to shine with your bright, bold and passionate creativity, and may you remain true to your unique artistic vision. You are an inspiration and a strength to our world. Thank you!
Max Liu
It’s truly an honor to serve as a judge for the 2025 JIA Illustration Award. Being part of this world-class contest has been not only rewarding, but eye-opening as well. I’ve had the chance to view an incredible range of works submitted by talented artists from around the globe—and I genuinely appreciate the heart, effort, and craft that each of you poured into your art.
We’re living in a time where our world is saturated with information and AI-generated content. Yet, I still firmly believe that what makes a piece of art truly resonate comes from our own love, observations, and reflections on life. Thankfully, I see this human depth clearly in the submitted works. From quiet portraits of everyday neighbors to expansive, poetic depictions of the universe, these illustrations speak to thoughtfulness, curiosity, and creativity that no machine can replicate.
I also want to give a big shout-out to the artists who took risks and explored new forms of expression—those who mixed ink, watercolor, and digital media, or even painted directly onto natural objects. These experiments are bold, fresh, and exactly the kind of creative energy we need.
Thank you all for inspiring me with your work. It’s been a privilege.
Moon Q
As a judge for the JIA Illustration Award 2025, I feel so honored. This year’s competition featured a wide variety of styles and subjects, showcasing the rich imagination, solid technical skills, and the ever-evolving visual language of illustrators from around the world. The judging process was not only a delightful visual journey filled with surprises, but also a thoughtful and intellectually engaging experience.
Overall, the entries this year demonstrated impressive technical mastery—whether in the handling of light and shadow, texture, composition, or color. At the same time, many works achieved a high level of emotional expression and thematic depth. I believe the true charm of illustration lies in its ability to encapsulate narrative, emotion, and ideas—those intangible elements—into a single image, either through direct depiction or subtle suggestion, allowing for silent yet profound communication. I was especially struck by works that appeared effortless at first glance but revealed deep emotions or complex thoughts upon closer inspection.
Illustration is a form of visual expression rich with subjectivity. While it may seem that an illustration is simply something that is "drawn," in truth, it is the result of deliberate thought, selection, editing, and distillation. The illustrator’s unique visual language is built through these processes. In this sense, composition, color, form, and texture are not merely illustratoric techniques—they are vessels of thought and feeling. Thus, a significant question in the field of illustration is how to express experiences and imaginations that are difficult to convey through other media such as writing, photography, or video. Many of this year’s participants actively explored this question. With their personal perspectives and worldviews, they created works that resonate across cultural boundaries. I believe illustration is a medium full of warmth and individuality—one that can truly reach into the depths of the human heart.
Nadiia Zhelieznova
The JIA Illustration Award 2025 presents a vibrant panorama of contemporary illustration — from polished commercial approaches to experimental and poetic forms. What stood out this year was the level of visual storytelling and conceptual risk-taking. It's clear that the competition supports not only technical excellence but also encourages artists to explore unique perspectives. As a former Gold Prize winner and now a juror, I deeply value the role JIA plays in shaping a diverse and international illustration community.
Yimin Wang
As a member of the illustration jury, I sincerely appreciate the trust and invitation extended by the organising committee. The judging experience has broadened my artistic horizons, offering me a novel perspective as I transitioned from creator to judge. It has also enabled me to re-experience the multifaceted charm of visual narratives once more, albeit as an "indirect" participant.
During the judging process, I had the honour of admiring the exceptional works of many talented artists. They reinterpreted timeless themes using their own visual languages, reconstructing the joys of childhood with dreamlike elements, rendering feelings of loneliness through subtle colours, reshaping the boundaries of technology with flowing lines, and exploring the dialectical relationship between humanity and nature through metaphorical forms. ... Each creator deconstructs and reassembles these classic motifs, endowing them a novel visual expression through personalised compositions, colours, and techniques. These works resemble prismatic crystals, reflecting radiant light, it is as if one could glimpse the diverse facets of the world through a changing kaleidoscope.
In the current digital age, I particularly appreciate that many artists still insist on hand-drawn mode of illustration creation. They capture fleeting memories with keen perception, outlining the texture of contemplation with delicate strokes and guarding their returning authenticity with reverent dedication. Their creativity is commendable as they strike a balance between tradition and innovation, providing a gentle resistance to the growing homogenisation of aesthetic preferences. This sort of commitment to self-expression enables viewers to gain insight into the vastness of the creator's mind through the microcosm of the pictorial plane.
I would like to express my gratitude to the organizing committee for granting me the opportunity to rediscover the depth and breadth of illustration art through this judging process. Congratulations to all the winners on their excellent achievements! I look forward to the exhibition providing the audience with an equally enriching artistic experience, and may we continue to witness together the boundless possibilities of illustration art together.
Takahiro Kanie (Chairman of Japan Illustrators' Association)
We received a lot of entries from all over the world, with 283 applicants and 802 works.
The judges look at a lot of works at once, so if the first impression is weak, it won't stay in their mind. It's whether their heart moves the moment they see it.
Then, what kind of work moves their heart?
It requires that you have your own world view and that you have the technique to express it well.
When choosing, if an artist has only 1 item and the other has 5 items, there is a high probability that the 5 items will be selected. I feel an overwhelming amount of heat from a large number of works.
However, there is a condition that all works must have the same style and level. If the style of each work is different or there is a difference in level, it may work negatively.
I feel that the winners of this competition are definitely the people who should become first-class illustrators or first-class artists.
Our mission is to let people all over the world know about such talented artists.
The Judges' bio
Ekaterina Borodacheva
Ekaterina Borodacheva is an illustrator from St. Petersburg, Russia. She is a member of several prestigious organizations, including the Union of Artists of Russia, the International Association of Designers "Vatikam," and JIA, the Japan Illustrators' Association.
The first book with her illustrations was published in 2009, and since then, book illustration has been her main focus. During this time, dozens of books with Ekaterina's illustrations were published. An artist works with various publishing houses around the world, and she prefers traditional techniques when creating her artwork.
Ekaterina Borodacheva mainly works in watercolors, combined with colored pencils, paying attention to every detail in her characters and objects. She also conducts historical research to ensure accuracy in her work. Each drawing or painting is created manually without the use of computer software.
Many of Ekaterina's original works can be found in private collections across Russia, Serbia, Spain, China, and Canada. In addition to books, she also creates illustrations for tableware, calendars, and other products.
Website : https://www.borodacheva.com/
Max Liu
Max Liu is a New York-based concept artist and digital illustrator originally from China. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Digital Media from the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) and later studied digital art and 3D animation at the School of Visual Arts in New York.
Early in his creative career, Max worked as an indie animation director. His animated short film NoWhereMan earned over 30 national and international awards, including honors from the Los Angeles Film Awards, Festigious International Film Awards, and New York Film Awards in 2020.
With a strong foundation in digital painting and concept design, Max has collaborated with a wide range of design teams, game studios, and publishers. His clients and employers include Tencent, Ubisoft, Google, MediaMonks, Digital Domain, Serenity Forge, and Co_ed Studios.
His illustration and digital art have been exhibited at the Sasse Museum of Art, Camelback Gallery, Imago Foundation for the Arts, and the Maryland Federation of Art.
Website : https://www.maxliuwendy.com/
Moon Q
Moon Q is a natural science illustrator.Her major works include contributions to the “Birds of China” illustration series and the “Ecological Behavior of the Okinawa Rail” series. She has participated in the illustration production of several natural history books and museum-related projects. In March 2025, she received a Ph.D. in Art from Nihon University, where her research focused on the current applications and methodologies of natural science illustration. Her academic contributions include the publication of “Natural Science Illustration Guide ver 0.0.1”, among others. She has received several awards, including “Natural Artist of the Year” and the Wildlife Category Champion (Adult Division) at CWIVC (China Wildlife Image and Video Competition) 2023, and the “GRAND PRIX” at the JIA Illustration Award 2024. Her work combines scientific accuracy with artistic expression, emphasizing careful observation and visual communication.
Web: https://moonillustration.myportfolio.com/
reasearchmap: https://researchmap.jp/Moon_Q
Nadiia Zhelieznova
Nadiia Zhelieznova is an artist, illustrator, and educator based in Abu Dhabi. Her practice spans graphic works, sculpture, textiles, and stop-motion animation. She explores the line between the grotesque and the beautiful, drawing from fairy tales, pop culture, and kitsch, with a strong focus on decorative form and materiality.
She was awarded the Gold Prize in the JIA Illustration Award 2024 and returned in 2025 as a juror. Nadiia collaborates with clients such as Adobe, Internazionale, and Yandex, and regularly teaches at the British Higher School of Art and Design. Beyond client work, she organizes lectures and workshops focused on expanding the boundaries of illustration and advocating for artist rights across Eastern Europe.
She is currently developing her own short film The Dark Case, experimenting with sculpture, textiles, and analog animation, while preparing new work for festivals and exhibitions.
Behance: https://www.behance.net/zhelieznova
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zhelieznova
Yimin Wang
Yimin was born in Chengdu, China, and currently lives in Florence, Italy. Her triple identities as xylographer, illustrator and picture book creator imbue her work with a distinctive character. Her inspiration stems from inquiry into the relationship between humans and animals, as well as insights drawn from her personal life experiences. In terms of technique, she holds a particular affinity for traditional approach —especially the graphite pencil, whose delicate strokes on printmaking paper produce tactile textures and fine pores. For her, this texture is a figurative reproduction of the kinetic energy of 'breathing' condensed onto a two-dimensional plane, embodying a form of vitality and living presence. She is an Award-Winning Artist with recognitions like JIA Illustration Award 2024 (JPN), Communication Arts 2024 (US), 3×3 International Illustration Show 2024 (US), the 10th Hiii Illustration 2023 (CHN), China Illustration Biennial 9 (2023), iJungle Illustration Awards 2023 (EU), and the 3rd Yerevan International Print Biennial 2021 (AM).
Website: https://yiminwwang.com/
