World Literary Awards

← Back to Home

Victo Ngai

Victo Ngai

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1988-01-01 （Guangdong Province）
Nationality
Chinese, American
Languages
English, Chinese
Residence History
Guangdong Province → Hong Kong → Providence, Rhode Island → Los Angeles, California

Career

Occupations
Illustrator, Fine Artist
Active Years
2009-2024
Influenced By
Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Hiroshige, Chris Buzelli, Norman Rockwell, Winsor McCay, Mary Blair, Alexander McQueen
Nominations
Hugo Award Best Professional Artist nomination (2017, 2018, 2019)

Education

Private art teacher in Shenzhen
Art
Period: 夏休み2年間
Country: China
Where her creative confidence flourished
Rhode Island School of Design
Illustration
Degree: BFA
Period: 2006-2010
Year of Graduation: 2010
Country: United States
Mentored by Chris Buzelli

Awards

Hugo Award Best Professional Artist
2018
Category: Best Professional Artist
Organization: World Science Fiction Society
Result: Winner
BSFA Best Artwork
2018
Work: Waiting on a Bright Moon
Category: Best Artwork
Organization: British Science Fiction Association
Result: Winner
Hamilton King Award
2019
Organization: Society of Illustrators
Result: Winner
California Book Awards Gold Medal
2022
Work: Wishes
Organization: Commonwealth Club of California
Result: Gold Medal
Spectrum Gold Medal
2018
Work: Serving Fish
Organization: Spectrum Fantastic Art
Result: Gold Medal
Society of Illustrators Gold Medal
2012
Work: Jacks and Queens
Category: Advertising
Organization: Society of Illustrators
Result: Gold Medal

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Waiting on a Bright Moon

2018 SF Novel Cover Illustration

Cover illustration for JY Yang's novella. Winner of BSFA Best Artwork.

Science FictionFantasy

Wishes

2021 Picture Book Illustration

Illustrations for picture book by Muon Thi Van. Gold Medal California Book Awards.

Wishes

Vicious

2013 Novel Cover Illustration

First book cover for V. E. Schwab's novel.

Dark Fantasy

Dazzle Ships: World War I and the Art of Confusion

2017 Children's Book Illustrations

Illustrations for Chris Barton's book on WWI dazzle camouflage. Dilys Evans Founder's Award.

World War IDazzle Camouflage

Jacks and Queens at the Green Mill

2012 Illustration

Illustration for Tor.com. Society of Illustrators Gold Medal.

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Highly detailed and preciseReferencing comic book drawings, classic children's book illustrations, the work of Japanese painters

Health

  • Recurrent high fevers
    0-6歳
    Often bedridden until age six; took to drawing to entertain herself

Legacy

Acclaimed illustrator named in Forbes 30 Under 30 Art & Style. Hugo Award winner with numerous accolades. Established Victo Ngai Scholarship at Society of Illustrators.

Quotes

  • One of my RISD professors told me this back in freshmen year, 'Fine artists like to create problems for themselves while illustrators like to solve problems given to them'. I love drawing and I love problem solving, hence illustration.
    Source: Interview (Illustration Friday) (2014)

Trivia

  • Influenced early by great-uncle's meticulous Chinese ink painting.
  • Signs works with a seal-like symbol resembling the first character of her Chinese name; rotated counterclockwise, reads 'Victo'.
  • Created The Victo Ngai Scholarship Award for Society of Illustrators Student Competition.