Spring is upon us and that means that awards season is in full swing in the creative industries. Every April, the prestigious Society of Illustrators (SOI) announces a group of Hall of Fame inductees recognizing their distinguished achievements in the field. This year, two of the six artists joining the elite club of honorees include acclaimed SVA faculty members Yuko Shimizu (MFA 2003 Illustration as Visual Essay) and Steve Brodner.

Shimizu is a multi-award-winning Japanese illustrator based in New York City who teaches in the College’s BFA Illustration department. A two-time Hugo Award nominee (2019, 2020), Shimizu has also earned multiple Clio Awards (2023) and won more than 15 medals from the Society of Illustrators since 2004.

“I am feeling surprised and intimidated at the moment!” she said upon the news of her Hall of Fame inclusion. “Steve and the other inductees are artists whom I have always looked up to since the time I was in art school. I am currently hiding in my little studio cave, quietly freaking out processing this news!”

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