Heart
Year in Review
2023
Looking back, 2023 is filled with great memories. This is thanks to the imaginative and unique briefs that the artists were entrusted with. Here we present some of these projects in a Year in Review.
George started the year with his first cover for Meng Ya, following on from last year’s commission with Manshen. In March we welcomed a new artist at Heart, Michelle Mildenberg Lara. Exhibitions at The Story Museum, the National Railway Museum and Hartlepool Museum featured commissions with Barry, Masha and Jonny. Yann’s drawings of Las Vegas were published in a Louis Vuitton Travel Book and Jimmy created live visuals for Chanel’s Métiers d’Art after-party. Franz created packaging for Fortnum & Mason and Adam worked on branding for The Booker Prize and The Guildhall School of Music & Drama. Michelle worked on awareness campaigns for the Southern Poverty Law Centre and Mari created a series of artwork for MoMA.
Thank you to all our clients
Ben Jones
Foreign Affairs
Book review of 'How States Think: The Rationality of Foreign Policy' by John Mearsheimer and Sebastian Rosato
Reviewer, Keren Yarhi-Milo, looks at why smart leaders do stupid things
Manshen Lo
MASSIVE Cinema
Limited edition poster for a special screening of ’Past Lives’, the feature film and directorial debut, of Celine Song
Manshen’s artwork depicts the reunion of characters, Nora (Greta Lee) and Hae-Sung (Teo Yoo), childhood friends who meet again in New York
George Wylesol
The Los Angeles Times
Cover artwork for a guide to Palm Springs
Masha Krasnova Shabaeva
de Volkskrant
'Toothless Idealism' millennials tend to act as if they are not part of the system they want to change
Fien Jorissen
32 poems
Cover artwork on the theme of 'a sense of place', for the biannual poetry journal
Harriet Lee Merrion
The Guardian
'One billionaire at a time' about the Swiss Clinics where the super rich go for rehab
Romy Blümel
Spring
A series of paintings on the theme of 'Togetherness' for the 20th anniversary exhibition of Spring
Roderick Mills
The New York Times and Serial Productions
Identity for 'The Coldest Case in Laramie' podcast
Journalist Kim Barker revisits a strange case from the town where she lived as a teenager: the murder of Shelli Wiley in 1985. Wiley was stabbed and her flat set on fire. The case went cold until 2016 when a former Laramie police officer was charged with her murder, with overwhelming evidence. But just a few months later, the prosecutors in Laramie dropped the charges.
“We needed a suite of images—a hero to represent the show and episodic art to accompany it. We hoped the artwork could reflect the ephemeral nature of memory on a long un-resolved murder case, and take care to respect the family, friends and suspects who shared in the story. We ended up with a powerful, moody hero image and episodic series that was shaped by his ability to take the literal and weave in a depth of emotion by his controlled use of color, layering and abstraction. The artwork that Roderick produced was enormously successful”
Kelly Doe, Head of Brand Identity, The New York Times
Franz Lang
Fortnum & Mason
Coffee packaging
Yann Kebbi
Louis Vuitton
Las Vegas Travel Book
Masha Krasnova Shabaeva
Bebe Books and PrintRoom
“The calendar's theme was briefed by Bebe Books. However, I accepted their offer without even thinking twice because some of the themes have always been interesting to me. The human body and the fluidity of gender and sexuality are certainly the central ones. I felt that I could experiment with them a lot in my drawings. I decided to concentrate my attention on longing. Longing to connect with your own body, to play with it and pleasure it, which can come in a myriad of different ways and forms. I was born and lived a considerable part of my life in Russia, where the ‘international LGBTQ+ movement’ (a ridiculous phrasing by the Russian government) has been officially banned since November 2023. Earlier, in July, gender changes were banned. So, this calendar is also a very political project for me. And it’s painful that, in this day and age, it has to be political”
Masha Krasnova Shabaeva
Tom Gauld
New Scientist
A selection of cartoons from Tom's weekly column
RPX
Animated holiday card
Michelle Mildenberg Lara
The New York Review of Books
Portrait of the writer Namwali Serpell, accompanying a review of Serpell's new novel 'The Furrows'
Michael Kirkham
The Boston Globe
'Winter in New England', 'cover artwork featuring the Jack Williams Toboggan Chute in Maine
Masha Krasnova Shabaeva
de Volkskrant
'Outside Out' a review of open-air theatres
Brett Ryder
Sierra Magazine
'Oral Histories of Climate Change'
Adam Simpson
The Booker Prize
Identity for the 2023 Awards Ceremony
Matthew Richardson
GOOD
A publication in collaboration with the Iris Murdoch Archive
Iris Murdoch's notes for 'The Bell', which Matthew discovered in the back of 'The Outsider' by Colin Wilson, were a starting point for connecting and combining two writers and two narrative worlds, using the form of an illustrated book to play in the spaces between reading and seeing, and words and images
Lucinda Rogers
The New York Times
'Drawings of a City Divided' a picture essay about the impact on New York of the Israel Gaza war. Over a 10 day period at the end of October 2023 Lucinda created many drawings at ongoing events including protests and in other settings
“It was such a rich collaboration. Many people, of a number of beliefs, have reached out to say the piece meant a lot to them, with high compliments for Lucinda’s artistry and sensitivity”
The New York Times Opinion team
Jonny Hannah
Shipbuilders & Fisherfolk
A commission from Hartlepool Borough Council to explore and celebrate the maritime heritage of Hartlepool culminating in two exhibitions of work and activities at the Museum of Hartlepool and Hartlepool Art Gallery
The work that Jonny created draws inspiration from the Museum of Hartlepool's collections, the heritage buildings themselves, the landscape and bygone industries of the North East of England, and hundreds of tales and contributions from the local community
Laura Carlin
Walker Books
'London a History' from prehistory to the present day, spreads from a new children's book to be published June 2024
Adam Simpson
Darling Park
Branding and identity for GPT Group's development on Sydney Harbour
Ben Jones
Hikerdelic
'Down to Earth' SS23 clothing collection for the streetwear brand
Jimmy Turrell
Chanel
Live visuals for the after-party of Chanel's Metiers d'Art Show 2023 in Manchester
George Wylesol
Meng Ya
A selection from a year long commission to create twelve covers for the Chinese literary magazine
Michelle Mildenberg Lara
Southern Poverty Law Centre
Know your rights about panhandling
Barry Falls
The Story Museum
Identity and character design for 'Brilli-ANT'. The immersive exhibition takes children inside the world of an anthill. Visitors find out what happened next after Aesop's Fabel of the Ant and the Grasshopper, and practical ways young people can tackle climate change
“We were aware of Barry's work, and in love with the playfulness and intricacy of the worlds he created. Especially discovering his work with Dara McAnulty, it became clear that Barry was a rare talent. Barry came on board not just as an illustrator, but also a collaborator. He was kind, patient, clear and hugely creative, invaluably feeding into the wider design and narrative. His work was considered and exquisite”
Daniel Clarke, Director of Creative Programme at The Story Museum
Ben Kirchner
Boxer Books
A new re-imagining of The Night Before Christmas, celebrating the 200 year anniversary of the publication of Clement Moore's original poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas'
Ben's adaptation takes place at the South Pole with a family of emperor penguins visited by a North Pole, polar bear Santa
Brett Ryder
The Economist
A selection of artworks from the weekly 'Schumpeter' column covering topical issues related to business, finance and management
Renaud Vigourt
Seuil Jeunesse
Cover and internal artworks for the middle grade fiction novel 'Monosourcil' published by Seuil Jeunesse
The novel, written by Delphine Vallette, depicts a slice of life through the eyes of ten year old Thomas. The anxiety caused by school bullying, mainly based on physical differences, is central to Thomas' experience. The story highlights the need for accepting differences, discovering a variety of personalities (nothing is what it first seems), understanding and friendship
Adam Simpson
The Guildhall School of Music & Drama
Prospectus cover and bag
“I wanted to work with Adam on an illustration representing Guildhall School for our new prospectus. I loved Adam’s ability to create a world behind the façade of a building, and he didn’t disappoint with this commission; he really was able to represent all aspects of the student’s work and life behind the scenes at Guildhall. Adam very quickly understood the brief and ran with it, creating a beautiful bespoke artwork that was so very well received within our community. And he was a real pleasure to work with!”
Airelle Depreux, Design and Brand Manager for Guildhall School of Music & Drama
Luke Best
The Financial Times
'What Moving House Does to Your Brain' even if your new home is within the same city, mental and emotional maps are completely redrawn
Lucinda Rogers
The New York Times
Portraits for the 'America in Focus' series, which gathers topical focus groups to expand the reach of opinion journalism to include people who are often overlooked in the national conversation
“Lucinda creates portraits of each participant, capturing the personal aspects of divisive subjects with warmth and integrity. Week after week she creates portraits with care, consistency, and attention to individuals' unique characteristics. The portraits' elegance and accuracy are made even more impressive given the reference photo is a low-res zoom video feed (!). Lucinda is an absolute pleasure to work with”
Shoshana Schultz, Art Director The New York Times Opinion
Masha Krasnova Shabaeva
The New York Review of Books
Book review of the new novels by V. V. Ganeshananthan and Shehan Karunatilaka, who both ‘use the “distance of time' to dramatise large chunks of Sri Lanka’s recent past
Fien Jorissen
The Washington Post
Cover of the Fall Arts Preview featuring highlights from the world of pop, film, classical music, dance, theatre, video games, art and television
Manshen Lo
Japanese Breakfast
US tour poster for the indie band
Renaud Vigourt
The New York Times
Book review of Grady Hendrix’s new novel, 'How to Sell a Haunted House'
Simon Pemberton
Faber
Cover for 'Where We Come From' by Aniefiok Ekpoudom, a social history of British rap and grime
Barry Falls
Bloomsbury
Cover artwork for 'Foxlight' by Katya Balen, a novel about twin sisters who follow a fox into the wilderness in an attempt to find their mother
“I've wanted to commission Simon for a long time, having always been a fan of the deep atmosphere and dynamism of his work. When the brief for Where We Come From came through, a book tracking the effect of UK rap and grime on three select communities, I knew that Simon was the man to create a jacket that would kick aside lazy tropes of urban grit and 'youth-as-threat', and give the book a rhythmic and hopeful package which few would expect in the genre. He instantly got the brief, understood the sensitivities involved and with only a couple of very quick and effective exchanges of ideas we had the cover. From brief to visualisation to final execution, it was exactly what you'd hope a commission to be and we ended up with more than I could have hoped for”
Pete Adlington, Art Director, Faber
"Honest feedback"
“I had to bring in my own flipover”
“I enjoyed working with them right up until the moment I burst into tears”
Paul Davis
KesselsKramer
25th anniversary project
“KesselsKramer recently turned 25. We asked all of our clients, from past and present, for their honest feedback about their relationship with KesselsKramer, to commemorate this quarter century of running an agency. To supplement this feedback, which takes the form of a book, we needed emotionally ravaged, hilariously honest, beautifully realised, surprisingly counter-intuitive, lovingly absurd artwork. There was only one person for the task - Paul Davis - and he didn’t disappoint, even when he had to illustrate some clients’ disappointments (as well as their compliments)”
Dave Bell, Creative Partner, KesselsKramer
Marc Boutavant
Chronicle Books
Wake Up Woodlands' spreads from a new children's book written by Karen Jameson to be published May 2024
Harriet Lee Merrion
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
On the theme of grief and loss, the cover artwork references the 'Angel of Grief' a sculpture by William Wetmore Story
Romy Blümel
The New York Review of Books
Portrait of the writer, Katherine Mansfield accompanying a review of 'All Sorts of Lives: Katherine Mansfield and the Art of Risking Everything' by Claire Harman
Shonagh Rae
The Guardian
'The sleep secret' how lucid dreams can make us fitter, more creative and less anxious
Michelle Mildenberg Lara
Living Cartography of Havana
Poster based on a text by Dainerys Machado, exhibited at the Latin American Literature Festival in Buenos Aires
Jason Ford
New Scientist
'The Weird Laws of Life' a handful of rules govern how evolution shapes life on Earth, offering clues about how animals and plants might adapt to a warming world
Masha Krasnova Shabaeva
National Railway Museum
Artworks for the new Wonderlab Gallery. Set within a former workshop on the grounds of the National Railway Museum, the new gallery has been developed to appeal to children aged seven to fourteen. It features eighteen interactive exhibits that encourage visitors to think like engineers while using skills and ideas from their everyday lives
“We were really excited to work with Masha to create the illustrations for our exhibit labels. We were drawn to Masha’s imaginative work and her simplicity of style which we felt would be perfect to communicate with our young audience. Masha created a diverse and inclusive family of characters for the labels, as well as imagining playful and surprising scenes for the huge ‘Engineering Reimagined’ interactive wall. Masha’s drawings and her pared back use of the Wonderlab colour palette work beautifully in the gallery helping us create a warm and permissive space for visitors”
Lorna Hogger, National Railway Museum Interpretation Manager
Manshen Lo
BAUM
'Coexistence with nature; the power of trees'
Identity for a new range of the Japanese beauty brand's products that use ingredients extracted from every part of the tree including the bark, leaves, fruit, and roots
Yann Kebbi
The New York Times
Shirley Jackson’s short story 'The Lottery' which first appeared in The New Yorker in the issue of June 26, 1948, is now so familiar as a cultural touchstone that it can be surprising to learn how shocking it originally seemed. The story went viral, in the way a short story could back then
George Wylesol
Bloomberg Businessweek
'Private Equity's Slow Carnage Unleashes a Wave of Zombies'
Ben Jones
Mother Jones
'Watching the Detectives' after 2020's protests, eyes turned to city budgets to see if financial audits change policing
Franz Lang
The New Yorker
The 'Therapy Issue' looks at therapy as a distinguishing feature of contemporary life. How might we all begin to feel better?
Harriet Lee Merrion
Tricycle
Portraits for the 'Personal Reflections' column in the Buddist Review. Clockwise from top left: Dani Shapiro, Edwidge Danticat, Yiyun Li and Gish Jen
Shonagh Rae
ISSUES
Artwork for Issues in Science and Technology, a policy journal published by the United States National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Mari Kanstad Johnsen
MoMA
'Animals Only Night at MoMA' for the drawn to MoMA series
Thank you to all of our clients!
Design and build by Josh Attwood