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 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.
Satoshi Hashimoto for Guardian Food Quarterly: A Beach Feast
Satoshi Hashimoto illustrates a Guardian Food Quarterly summer feature on beach food traditions, from Brazilian pastels and Mumbai sweetcorn to Portuguese bolas de berlim, Mexican coconut pulp and Antiguan seasoned rice, bringing a global shoreline menu into an editorial commission.
Javi Aznarez Illustrates the Hamptons for New York Magazine’s Summer 2026 Issue
Javi Aznarez illustrates New York Magazine’s Summer 2026 Hamptons issue, capturing seasonal workers, family homes, Donohue’s East and Hamptons culture through warm, character-driven editorial illustration that brings humour, social observation and New York summer storytelling to life.
Jisu Choi x Coca-Cola, out now in the wild for the World Cup. ⚽️🏟️
Jisu Choi x Coca-Cola lands for the World Cup with interactive airport vending machines across the USA. Spot all 9 hidden Coke bottles in Jisu’s artwork to win a free Coke, luggage tag, or other small prizes. Fun, fizzy, brilliant.
Javi Aznárez illustrates The Macallan Rare Cask 2026 for Harrods — Limited to just 100 bottles !
Javi Aznárez has illustrated an exclusive gift sleeve for The Macallan Rare Cask 2026 Release, celebrating the opening of The Macallan’s first UK boutique at Harrods.
Limited to 100 bottles, the release brings together luxury whisky, London retail and contemporary illustration.
Gardening Stories: Capturing the Magic of the Garden Illustrated By Clara Dupre
Clara Dupre illustrates 24 Illustrations for Charlotte Mendelson’s Observer gardening column with witty editorial botanical artwork. Her gardening illustrations combine plants, humour, character, and storytelling, making the series a strong reference for professional garden illustration, botanical editorial art, and illustrated gardening stories.
Jisu Choi x CHANEL Animation: Panoramic Portrait of Seoul for Métiers d’art 2026
Jisu Choi has illustrated an animated teaser for CHANEL’s Métiers d’art 2026 collection in Seoul, introducing the city through a panoramic vision of tradition, modernity, nature and urban life ahead of the House’s presentation at Centre Pompidou Hanwha.
Charlotte Trounce x Make-Ready Editions
Charlotte Trounce’s Make-Ready Editions collaboration presents three signed limited edition prints, combining her loose line, confident colour and everyday observation in a collectable, carefully produced art format.
Noma Bar x Haruki Murakami: The Book Cover T-Shirt as a Summer Statement
Noma Bar’s Haruki Murakami T-shirts and tote explore why we wear the books, bands, teams and places we love: as signals, memories and filters for like-minded people.