2026 Featured Artist Michelle Zhuang
We are pleased to introduce the art of Michelle Zhuang for 2026!
Each year, Clarion West works with a new artist to create an image that is used across our website, social media, and specialty needs, such as the summer poster, tote bags, and notebooks. The art is custom designed by a new artist each year with their personal interpretation of speculative fiction.
In 2026, we are pleased to feature the work of Michelle Zhuang.
Michelle is a Chinese-American illustrator based in the midwestern United States. Their work spans across book covers, comics, portraits, graphics, and an impressive portfolio of art. They have previously worked as an art generalist for a medical technology company and have done contract work for New York City Public Schools’ Hidden Voices project, illustrating portraits of lesser-known Asian-American historical figures. In their free time, they like watching playthroughs of horror games they’re too chicken to play and lovingly bullying their cats. You can find their work at https://michellezhuang-art.com and on Instagram/Bluesky @dooberlane.
Michelle’s 2026 Art for Clarion West took our breath away.
We asked Michelle some more questions about their work:
What interested you about working with Clarion West?
I’ve always loved speculative fiction, especially horror and fantasy! In particular, I love fiction that uses these genres as a vehicle to explore topics pertaining to identity and complex interpersonal relationships. I’ve only worked with comics scripts and writers previously, but I would love to work with more prose writers as well.
Tell us a little about yourself and your style of art.
I specialize in moody, atmospheric, highly textural work. Growing up, I worked primarily with pastels and mixed media, and that process definitely reflects in my art now. My work tends to focus on complex feelings, in particular loss and a yearning for connection.
Is there anything you want to tell us about this years’ design as far as inspiration?
I was heavily inspired by starling murmurations and vocalizations. If you haven’t heard starlings speak, please go to bird Tiktok (it’s truly incredible to listen to). I was drawn to that eerie feeling of ‘human, but not quite,’ and a sense of being the observed, studied subject rather than the other way around.
We look forward to seeing more of Michelle’s artwork out in the world!