“And Then They Were 50!”: the Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition Releases the 2021 Finalists

The China Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair (CCBF) is glad to announce the 50 Finalists selected in the 2021 Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition. Already at its 7th edition, Golden Pinwheel aims to give recognition to young talented artists active in the field of children’s book illustration.

Throughout the summer, the Jury composed of 5 international experts—Debbie Bibo (USA/Italy), Huang Li (China), Ken Niimura (Spain/Japan), Martin Salisbury (UK), and Zhu Ziqiang (China)—reviewed 2,426 entries using a shared online system and finalised their selection via digital conference.

From Russia to India, Mexico to Uruguay, the finalists represent 21 countries and territories. This shows the sheering vitality of the global illustration arena. Also, we can’t but be filled with astonishment by the very young age of the shortlisted artists, half of them being under 30 years old, and the youngest finalist being just 22. Undoubtedly, the future of illustration is assured!

The 50 finalists come from 21 countries and territories. 2021 Finalists Selection (in alphabetical order):

Name Country and territory
Anna Aparicio Català Spain
Luisa F. Arellano Mexico
Mohammad Babakoohi Iran
Marion Barraud France
Emily Brooks United Kingdom
Joaquin Camp Argentina
Chen Xi China
Cho Pei-Hsin Taiwan, China
Inae Pereira Gouveia Coelho Brazil
Irena Freitas Brazil
Łukasz Golędzinowski Poland
Guo Ye China
Yuliya Gwilym Ukraine
Gosia Herba Poland
Hou Qingqing China
Maria Ivashkina Russia
Kanishk Kamal India
Anna & Varvara Kendel Russia
Katia Klein Carulla Spain
Diane Li China
Li Yewei China
Lin Shih-Yu Taiwan, China
Liu Chang China
Liu Yichen China
Lu Lili China
Gisela Luz Portugal
Donya Maghsoudlou Iran
Leandro Mangado Acosta Uruguay
Tamara Martynova Russia
Naida Mazzenga Italy
Bia Melo Brazil
Miao Yu China
Alexandra Mirzac Romania
Kailee Ngan Hong Kong, China
Juan Palomino, Amanda Mijangos & Armando Fonseca Mexico
Nerea Pérez Spain
Jaromir Plachy Czech Republic
Olga Ptashnik Russia
Roozeboos Netherlands
Joanna Rzezak Poland
Walid Serageldine Switzerland
Tang Wei China
Giulia Tomai Italy
Tatyana Ukleiko Russia
Wang Xiaoxu China
Xu Wanxia China
Yu Chongjing China
Zhan Lin China
Zhang Fan China
Zong Minghao China

The 50 finalists’ artworks will be exhibited at the Golden Pinwheel Exhibition held at the China Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair from 19 to 21 November. In addition, their works will be featured in the 2021 Golden Pinwheel Yearbook to be published in November and distributed among all the Fair’s exhibitors and partners.

As early as 10 November, the finalists’ works will also be visible in a digital form in the Golden Pinwheel Online Gallery located on the competition’s official website. From that day to the closing of CCBF on 21 November, the illustrations will be submitted to a popular vote open to all Online Gallery viewers and CCBF visitors. The artist to receive the highest number of votes will win the Golden People’s Choice Award.

On the eve of the Fair, the Golden Pinwheel Jury will meet again to choose the winners of the Golden Pinwheel special awards among the abovementioned finalists: one Grand Award to a Chinese artist, one Grand Award to an international illustrator, and three Special Mentions.

In parallel, the 50 finalists’ works will come under the scrutiny of another panel of illustration specialists to choose the winner of the recently created Golden Pinwheel Young Illustrators Competition Astra Award. A partnership between CCBF and the sponsors of Astra International Picture Book Writing Contest, this new distinction will offer the winner a cash prize and a publishing contract.

The winners of the abovementioned awards will be announced at the Fair, except the People’s Choice Award laureate, whose identity will be released on 22 November.

Last but not least, one of the winners mentioned above will be appointed to design the 2022 CCBF visual identity, which will enrich all the Fair’s communication for a whole year.