The Journal
The Dutch Uncle Journal is a considered study of illustration, design, and animation in practice, how they are conceived, commissioned and realised in the wider world.
This is where we share the thinking behind our latest projects and engage with the wider shifts shaping visual culture, from the resurgence of handmade texture to the ways art redefines the spaces we inhabit.
A collection of work and ideas from the front line of contemporary illustration.
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Brian Rea / Noma Bar / Satoshi Hashimoto / Javi Aznarez / Debora Szpilman / Simone Massoni / Ping Zhu / Klaus Kremmerz / Lucas Varela / Charlotte Trounce / Marc Majewski / Kustaa Saksi / Alessandro Gottardo (SHOUT) / YOCO / Hsiao-Ron Cheng / Jisu Choi / Graham Roumieu / Tavis Coburn / Joel Holland / Robert Nicol (MA RCA) / Clara Dupré / Marc Burckhardt / Aesthetic Apparatus / Jon Gray (Gray318) / Christian Montenegro / LAPRISAMATA / Gaku Nakagawa / Adam McCauley
Brian Rea at KIAF Seoul 2026 with CMay Gallery, Hall B, Booth B20
Brian Rea exhibits at KIAF Seoul 2026 with CMay Gallery, alongside Nam June Paik, Eva Armisén, Daan den Houter, Brad Howe and Tim Hawkinson. The international contemporary art fair runs at COEX, Seoul, from 2–6 September 2026.
Charlotte Trounce Creates Nine Flower Prints for Peléton, Denmark
Illustrator Charlotte Trounce has created nine exclusive flower prints for Copenhagen art platform Peléton, featuring Lilium, Lobelia, Clover, Nasturtium, Pansy, Petunia, Poppy and Rapeseed. The collection brings Charlotte’s bold colour, painted forms and botanical subjects into a new print series.
Illustrator Jisu Choi Goes Wild for Riot Games’ Wild Fanfest at Hyundai Department Store in South Korea
South Korean illustrator Jisu Choi created the key visuals for Riot Games × Hyundai Department Store’s 2026 Wild Fanfest in Seoul and Pangyo, bringing Teamfight Tactics, Riftbound, Riot Store merchandise and interactive event elements together in detailed campaign illustrations.
We Are All Made From Stars: Marc Majewski Illustrates Benedikt Lehnert’s Picture Book About Life, Death and Renewal
Marc Majewski illustrates Benedikt Lehnert’s We Are All Made From Stars, a poetic children’s picture book exploring life, death, atoms, energy and renewal. Published by Little Gestalten, it combines scientific wonder with landscapes, stardust and nature-filled storytelling for young readers.
Javi Aznarez Illustrates Nine Orchard and New York’s Lower East Side for a 500-Piece Jigsaw Puzzle
Illustrator Javi Aznarez captures New York’s Lower East Side in a detailed 500-piece jigsaw for Nine Orchard hotel, depicting the restored Jarmulowsky Bank and surrounding neighbourhood in a character-filled cityscape created for guests to enjoy and purchase at the hotel.
Debora Szpilman Illustrates The Edit for Attentive’s 2026 Black Friday Cyber Monday Campaign
Debora Szpilman illustrates The Edit, Attentive’s 2026 Black Friday Cyber Monday campaign, with a bold hero image and playful editorial spots. The project brings character-led illustration to BFCM research, Cyber Week strategy, ecommerce marketing, SMS, email and customer engagement.
Jon Gray / GRAY318 Designs Dostoevsky Book Covers for Mondadori Oscar Classici
GRAY318, designs a new Fëdor Dostoevsky book cover series for Mondadori’s Oscar Classici. Featuring Crime and Punishment, The Brothers Karamazov and other major works, the collection brings contemporary graphic design to one of literature’s greatest authors.
Satoshi Hashimoto Illustrates Regional Japan for ANCHOR Magazine
Japanese illustrator Satoshi Hashimoto creates bi-monthly covers for ANCHOR, using recommendations from regional insurance branches across Japan. The series brings together local foods, landmarks and destinations from Toyama, Aomori, Iwate, Tokyo, Gifu, Osaka, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi and beyond.
Brian Rea Exhibition & Workshop: Fosforito Illustration Gallery, Barcelona — 18–20 Sept 2026
Brian Rea returns to Barcelona for an exhibition and 1.5-day workshop at Fosforito Illustration Gallery, opening 18 September 2026.
Finding the Feelings explores how personal experiences, everyday moments and emotion can be translated into stronger illustration and visual storytelling.
Illustrator Hsiao-Ron Cheng Joins the ADC Young Guns 24 Jury: 2026 Jurors and How to Enter
Taiwanese illustrator Hsiao-Ron Cheng joins the ADC Young Guns 24 jury for 2026. Discover why Young Guns matters, who is judging this year, which famous creatives are alumni, and how emerging artists and designers can enter the competition in 2026.
Javi Aznarez Gets Into the Groove for Internazionale Kids
Internationally acclaimed illustrator Javi Aznarez brings his distinctive wit, cinematic storytelling and character-filled world to Internazionale Kids. Recently named among 2026’s top illustrators, Javi creates a wonderfully detailed scene packed with humour, energy and plenty to discover.
Eiko Ojala Opens His First Solo Exhibition in Viljandi
Eiko Ojala’s first solo exhibition, Mind Notes, opens at Rüki Gallery in Viljandi, Estonia. Curated by Lilian Hiob-Küttis, the exhibition presents a lesser-seen side of Eiko’s practice, exploring human figures, geometric spaces and the psychological effects of built environments today.
Noma Bar: Look Again — A Landmark Exhibition at Tel Aviv Museum of Art
Noma Bar: Look Again runs August 5, 2026 to January 16, 2027 at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art. Curated by Yuval Saar, it is Noma Bar's first solo museum exhibition, featuring original paintings, sculptures and installations.
Javi Aznarez Illustrates ‘How to Write a Comic Novel’ for The Guardian
Javi Aznarez illustrates Andrew Sean Greer’s practical guide to comic fiction, explaining how serious problems, precise details, human behaviour and careful timing can turn emotional truth into laughter for readers.
Book cover design by GRAY318 for ‘The Hour Of The Wolf ‘ by Fatima Bhutto
Fatima Bhutto’s memoir The Hour of the Wolf explores grief, emotional abuse, recovery and her bond with Coco, the dog who supported her.
Published by Daunt Books, the cover was designed by graphic designer Jon Gray, known professionally as GRAY318.
Jisu Choi Unfolds Samsung’s Galaxy Campaign with j-hope
Jisu Choi illustrates Samsung Korea’s Galaxy Unpacked campaign with j-hope, using a street scene and “new ratio” clue to invite followers to imagine the next Galaxy device before its reveal.
Charlotte Trounce Returns to Falmouth for No.3 at Morgans Gallery
Charlotte Trounce returns to Falmouth for No.3 at Morgans, presenting new paintings alongside artists working across painting, ceramics, sculpture and tableware in a summer group exhibition running until late August.
Clara Super Duper Illustrates Showbåden 2026 for Copenhagen Opera Festival
Clara Super Duper created the poster for Showbåden 2026 at Copenhagen Opera Festival, a live opera canal cruise running 13 August to 6 September.
The event introduces opera through music, story and city setting, with a Tidal playlist for listeners.
Gen Z, Smartphones and Student Mental Health, Illustrated by Brian Rea
Brian Rea illustrates Missouri Baptist University Magazine’s feature on Gen Z, smartphones and student wellbeing.
The article explains how social media affects attention, anxiety, sleep and campus life, while MBU responds through media literacy, faith, support and in-person care programmes.
Debora Szpilman Checks In at The Webster Hotels, New York and London
Debora Szpilman created brand illustrations for The Webster hotels as part of a new identity by 01-20 Studio. The project connects hospitality, magical realism, Gabriel García Márquez and cultural storytelling, giving the brand a distinct authored voice across guest touchpoints.