Xu Yu
Xu Yu, an independent illustrator currently based in Europe, was born and raised in Jiaxing, Zhejiang. She holds a bachelor's degree from the School of Art and Design at Zhejiang Sci-Tech University and a master's degree in Comics from the Bologna Academy of Fine Arts in Italy. Xu Yu currently lives and works in the UK and has been participating in a six-month artist residency in Angoulême, the comic city of southern France, since March this year. Her artworks are always filled with a curiosity and love for life itself, capturing the most exciting details and colors from everyday life and adventures abroad. Through her art and courage, Xu Yu has built a unique art world of her own.
Since 2016, Xu Yu's works have been serialized in major magazines, including "Children's Literature," "National Geographic," "Paintbox," and "Art Heart." She has successfully published over 30 books, including her personal illustrated books such as "Southern Diary," "Ugly Stone," "Distant," "Revealing the Twenty-Four Solar Terms," "A Solo Journey in Italy," and "Drawing while Travelling." Her publications and creative sharing have garnered widespread attention and love from illustration enthusiasts in China, and her recent publications have frequently appeared on major bestseller lists.
Xu Yu's creations have been recognized by various illustration awards, including the iJungle Illustration Awards (2024), the Communication Arts Illustration Competition Best Work Award (2023), the Hiii Illustration International Competition Excellence Award (2021), and the Suzhou Jinji Lake Competition Excellence Award (2021). Her works have also been shortlisted multiple times for the Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Award and exhibited at major events such as the Bologna Children's Book Fair. Xu Yu also has extensive experience in commercial collaborations, having worked with numerous Chinese and international brands, including the Palace Museum, Beijing CYTS, Nongfu Spring, the Korean outdoor brand Kolon, and the independent publisher Modo Shop in Bologna, Italy.
Past Exhibition: