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Deb JJ Lee
  • illustration
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  • class
 

Helping Molly Magnell with her project. She also took this photo

A few of many talented and special art/design peers off the top of my head whose work I know you’d love. I’m lucky to met these people through my career as they have helped me to feel inspired to become even better. I’m sure they will for you too!

A Liang Chan / Adam Ellis / Alex Krokus / Alice Lee / Angelica Alzona / Angela Hsieh / Ariel Davis / Bryce Kho / Chelsea Beck / Chris Kindred / Christina Lee / Devin Elle Kurtz / Djamila Knopf / Eve Liu / Faith Kaufman / Faith Schaffer / Grayson Bear / Ilya Milstein / Jackie Ferrentino / Jensine Eckwall / JJ Ellis / Kat Tsai / Katherine Lam / K Downs / K Wroten / Lily Padula / Luke Ashworth / Molly Magnell / Molly Mendoza / Nadia Shammas / Natalie Andrewson / Pingnan Liu / Rosemary Valero-O’Connell / Sara Kipin / Sarula Bao / Tiffany Jiang / Vicky Leta / Wendy Xu

Gonna keep updating this list! Check back in again later <3

 
 

Publishing/Speaking inquiries: Ed Maxwell ed@transatlanticagency.com / 212.206.5600 

Illustration inquiries: Debut Art Agency info@debutart.com / +44 (0) 20.7636.1064

Questions, Features, etc: hello@debleeart.com

Hey, I’m Deb (they/them). I am a Korean-American Brooklyn-based illustrator. You may know me for my award-winning graphic memoir IN LIMBO, or from this unfortunately viral image I made one cocktail in at the pool. I was also in a fantasy internet cult from 2009-2011. If you buy me a second cocktail I might tell you about it.

Books:

  • “In Limbo” - (2023) First Second Books - a graphic novel memoir about the intersection of Korean-American diaspora and mental health.

  • “The Other Side of Tomorrow” - (2024) Harper Alley - illustrating Tina Cho’s graphic novel about children escaping North Korea.

  • “The Invisible Boy” - (2020) Roaring Brook Press - illustrated Alyssa Hollingsworth’s novel about the next-door neighbor and his secret.

  • “Monster Seek” - 2026 from Astra Books - illustrating Rainie Oet’s picture book about gender identity.

Select clients:

Apple, BMW, Chronicle Books, Discovery Inc, Disney Hyperion, Faber-Castell, Google, Harper Collins, Johnnie Walker, LEGO, Lyft, Macmillan Publishers, Martell, Meta, New Yorker, New York Times, Nissin Cup Noodle, NPR, Procreate App, Random House, Scientific American, Simon and Schuster, The Verge, Tor, Washington Post

Written Features + Press:

  • Korean American artist explores identity, belonging in award-winning graphic memoir ‘In Limbo’ / The Korea Times

  • Deb JJ Lee at Almost Perfect / Almost Perfect

  • Understanding The Mental Health Journey In The Korean American Community With Author Deb JJ Lee / Forbes

  • The Candid Visual Storytelling of Deb JJ Lee / Hyperallergic

  • Deb JJ Lee: A Graphic Memoir About “Maintaining Tricky Relationships and Healing” Marks a Bold Debut | SLJ 2023 Stars / SLJ

  • In graphic memoir 'In Limbo,' a Korean American finds healing and humanity / NPR

  • MACKIDS SPOTLIGHT: DEB JJ LEE / Macmillan Publishers

  • Interview with Artist Deb JJ Lee / Geeks Out

  • Artist Turns Down $3,000 Fortnite Job Offer, Calls It 'Hilarious' / Kotaku

  • A New Refrain From Artists: We ‘Almost Gave Up on Instagram’ / New York Times

  • A Conversation About Book Covers with Illustrator Deborah Lee, A Rising New Voice in Children’s Books / James Preller

  • Design Alumna on the New Yorker and Being “IN LIMBO” / CMU Design

  • An artist's perspective on depression and how life informs our craft w/ Deborah Lee / Haifidelity Podcast

  • Artist Spotlight: Deborah Lee / Inprnt Blog

  • Meet the Artist: Deborah Lee / Procreate App

  • Q&A: How Illustrator Deborah Lee Turns Her Sadness Into Artistry And Joy / Character Media

  • @jdebbiel, Featured Illustrator / Ballpit Mag

  • Deb J. Lee, Recent Work / Supersonic Art

Awards:

Ignatz Awards (Winner for Promising New Talent, Eisner Awards (Nominated for Best Graphic Memoir), Harvey Awards (Nominated for Best Children/Young Adult Graphic Novel), Society of Illustrators (Gold Medal 2023, Silver Medal (2024))

Speaker/Panel Events:

Juror/Guest Speaker - Ringling College of Art and Design, 2024

Panelist - San Diego Comic Con, 2023

Panelist - TCAF, 2023

Guest Speaker - Washington University in St Louis, 2023

Guest Speaker - Carnegie Mellon University, 2023

Guest Speaker - School of Visual Arts, 2023

Guest Speaker - University of Southern California, 2022

Guest Speaker - Maryland Institute College of Art, 2022

Guest Speaker - Fashion Institute of Technology, 2022

Design Lecture Series Speaker - Carnegie Mellon University, 2021

GROW Keynote Speaker - AIGA Austin, 2020

Jumpstart your Illustration Career (while staying true to yourself, your art, and your identity) — Lightbox Expo, 2019

Galleries + Shows:

  • “And We Dance” solo show, Almost Perfect Tokyo, 2024

  • “Return to the Unknown: The Over the Garden Wall 10 year Anniversary Show”, group exhibition, Gallery Nucleus 2024

  • “Let’s do this again: Official Spider-verse Show”, group exhibition, Gallery Nucleus, 2023

  • “Art of IN LIMBO and Deb JJ Lee”, solo show, Gallery Nucleus, 2023

  • “Neko Show”, group exhibition, Giant Robot, 2021

  • “Totoro Show 6”, group exhibition, Giant Robot, 2020

  • “The Plant Show 3”, group exhibition, Giant Robot, 2020

  • “Deep Forest”, group exhibition, Giant Robot, 2020

  • “Salut!5”, group exhibition, Nucleus Portland, 2020

  • "GOODNIGHT", solo exhibition, The Frame Gallery, 2018

  • "Assemblage", group exhibition, The Miller Gallery, 2017 

Deb JJ Lee © 2025 / You may not use these images for AI :) I will find you