Mehrdokht Amini

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MEHRDOKHT AMINI
ILLUSTRATOR HIGHLIGHT

 

YO SOY MUSLIM

From YO SOY MUSLIM, by Mark Gonzales (Salaam Reads/Simon & Schuster)
A 2018 Bank Street Best Book and 2017 Huffington Post Most Powerful Children’s Book

 

An Iranian-born illustrator now living in the UK, internationally lauded Mehrdokht Amini is a rising star. As such, she is a White Ravens honoree, a 2017 participant in the Bratislava Biennial of Illustrations, a winner of the Children’s Africana Best Book Award, and a Kate Greenaway Medal nominee. As a collaborator, Mehrdokht sees every new project as the magic wardrobe in the Chronicles of Narnia – a way into a world of wonders. But in this world, the wonders are her creations.

 

CHICKEN IN THE KITCHEN 1

CHICKEN IN THE KITCHEN 2

From CHICKEN IN THE KITCHEN, by Nnedi Okorafor (Lantana)
2016 Children’s Africana Best Book Award and 2017 Kate Greenaway Medal Nominee

 

Mehrdokht’s art – created in acrylic, markers, ink, and photo collage  –  is luminously layered, and often spikes riotous color with snippets of cut-out text. Though Mehrdokht has always been an ardent supporter of digital techniques, her process is to start her illustrations traditionally. She loves the imperfections traditional means allow, like an unintentional paint drop or the errant stroke of a brush, giving the work more personality and spontaneity. With magical, richly textured, vividly hued collages, Mehrdokht’s boisterous visuals soar with brilliance.

 

MOE AND MO 2

MOE AND MO 1

From A MOON FOR MOE AND MO, by Jane Breslin Zalben (Charlesbridge)
A 2019 Sydney Taylor Book Honor Award Winner

 

Mehrdokht decided to be an artist when she was still in secondary school. She went on to earn a degree in graphic design in Iran and started illustrating books while in college. However, it was only after moving to the UK that Mehrdokht felt completely free to express her feelings through art.

More Art by Mehrdokht Amini
 

CRESCENT MOONS

From CRESCENT MOONS AND POINTED MINARETS, by Hena Khan (Chronicle)
A 2019 NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Book, a CSMCL Best Book, and a Chicago Public Library Best Book

 

GOLDEN DOMES AND SILVER LANTERNS

From GOLDEN DOMES AND SILVER LANTERNS, by Hena Khan (Chronicle)
A CCBC Choice Book, ALA Notable, and a Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year

 

MULTICULTURALISM

Commissioned poster (Chronicle)

 

 

 

Check out our previous Illustrator Highlights:
AUDREY WOOD  |  CHRIS GORMAN |  THOMAS GONZALEZ   |  HEATHER B. LEE
RON BARRETT  |   SPECIAL EDITION  |  LUCIANA N. POWELL  |  SHIHO PATE

The Illustrator Highlight is a monthly publication featuring some of the artistic talent represented by East West Literary Agency.

DEBORAH WARREN, EAST WEST LITERARY AGENCY
dwarren@eastwestliteraryagency.com

East West Literary Agency, LLC specializes in children’s books of all genres, from concept, novelty and picture books through young adult literature and everything in between.
We represent both authors and illustrators.

More East/West Artists
 
 

Copyright © 2019 Mehrdokht Amini. All rights reserved.
Mehrdokht Amini is represented by East West Literary Agency.

Our mailing address is:
1158 26th Street, Suite 462
Santa Monica, CA 90403

This publication is edited by The Green & Yellow Alien, Ltd.