Preston will be first to host important exhibition of award-winning illustrations

University of Central Lancashire to host World Illustration Awards (WIA) 2024 touring exhibition

Preston will be the first place in the world to host a free exhibition showcasing award-winning illustrations from a host of international artists.

From Wednesday 11 December until Thursday 23 January, the University of Central Lancashire will host the World Illustration Awards (WIA) 2024 touring exhibition of the very best emerging and established illustrations.

The WIA are presented annually by the Association of Illustrators in partnership with the USA-based Directory of Illustration. The winners were selected by an independent jury from a shortlist of 200 projects, drawn from nearly 5,500 entries from 82 countries across ten categories.

The subsequent exhibition showcases all award-winning and highly commended projects, includes material that tell the story of the ideas, processes and artists behind the work. 

From book covers to newspapers, packaging to murals, the exhibition celebrates this most engaging of art forms in its broadest sense. Showcasing a diverse range of styles, materials and topics, featuring an extraordinary range of illustration practice across vibrant industry sectors including advertising, children’s books, design and science, the exhibition reveals the innovative ideas and techniques at the forefront of illustration today.

Illustration lecturer at the University of Central Lancashire Rachelle Panagarry commented: “We’re really excited to bring this internationally significant exhibition to Preston to showcase amazing illustration talent from all around the world and share it with our students and creative communities from across the North West.”

Association of Illustrators CEO Rachel Hill said: “This year's entrants displayed remarkable creativity and skill across the board. We were delighted to see illustration being thoroughly explored, celebrated, and developed as an art form.

“Our 2024 winners truly excel in their fields, illustrating complex narratives and ideas through their work. They also highlight the importance of illustration in our everyday lives, in books, news, packaging, murals, and more. We are proud to recognise these artists for their significant contributions to the illustration industry, and to showcase exceptional illustration talent from around the globe.”

The World Illustration Awards (WIA) 2024 touring exhibition will be open to visitors on weekdays 10.00am – 5.00pm and 11.00am – 4.00pm on Saturdays from the 11 December to the 23 January in the PR1 Gallery, Victoria Building, but is closed for the Christmas holidays from the 20 December to the 2 January.

For more information about the Preston exhibition, email Rachelle Panagarry - rcpanagarry@uclan.ac.uk

More information about the World Illustration Awards is available online (https://theaoi.com/entries/), including all 500 longlisted, 200 shortlisted and 44 winning projects (theaoi.com/world-illustration-awards/).