Illustrations created for a variety of magazines and newspapers.
All images ©Julia Breckenreid 2024
The back cover illustration for Reader’s Digest, with a theme of “a trusted friend in a complicated world”. AD: John Montgomery
This illustration has been chosen to appear as part of the American Illustration 42 archive.
Walter Pitts rose from the streets to MIT, but couldn’t escape himself.
Nautilus magazine, AD: Francesco Izzo
Cover Illustration: The Christian Century magazine
AD: Dan Richardson
The first longitudinal study of socially-transitioned transgender children.
Wrap Cover & Interior pages
Harvard Graduate School and Arts & Sciences magazine, Colloquy
AD: Kelly McMurray, 2 C O M M U N I Q U É
Illustrated and art directed - by me! A project done for Greg Worsnop, to benefit the Friends of Algonquin Park (FOAP) - a non-profit charity that dedicates their resources to develop current and future stewards of Algonquin Park.
An illustration for a review of Jessica Grose's book, ‘Screaming on the Inside: The Unsustainability of American Motherhood’
The Boston Globe, AD: George Patisteas
O, The Oprah Magazine, AD: Jill Armus
O, The Oprah Magazine
AD: Lauren Stine
Based on the novel, The Winter Vault by Anne Michaels
The difficulty of lip reading for the hearing impaired.
Stanford Magazine, AD: Giorgia Virgili
Seven writers share their loved ones’ final words.
Reader's Digest (Canada), AD: Danielle Sayer
A daughter of mixed-status Mexican parents, the author tries to find out who she is and where she fits as an American citizen.
onshegoes magazine, AD: Chen Liang, Wieden + Kennedy
Layers of History: Historical markers are just stories carved in stone.
O, The Oprah Magazine, AD: Lauren Stine
Scientific American magazine, AD: Michael Mrak
A portrait of Rosalie Barrow Edge - an early advocate for the protection of birds from hunting for sport and fashion, Rosalie founded the world's first preserve for birds of prey, the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary.
Smithsonian magazine, AD: Maria Keehan
Cover illustration for a book on biographer, James Atlas - which examines his impulse to study writers. This illustration was chosen for the Society of Illustrators annual show and book (SI60) and featured on the back cover of the same annual.
Penguin Random House, AD: Kelly Blair
The Washington Post, AD: Tippi Thole
The author navigates attending a reunion while grieving the death of her husband.
Spot & full page
Stanford Magazine, AD: Bambi Nicklen
UCLA magazine
Nautilus Magazine (cover), AD: Len Small
This illustration accompanied a personal essay concerning a woman's husband who lied to her about being gay during their twenty year marriage.
MORE Magazine, AD: Faith Cochran
This image was awarded a gold medal in the Editorial category from the Society of Illustrators.
Predatory Psychiatrist, MORE magazine
Caring for a Difficult Parent, Washington Post
A love letter to The Tragically Hip, one of Canada's most beloved bands, this ABC picture book features illustrations from four renowned Canadian illustrators.
The Tragically Hip, fronted by the late Gord Downie, is a legendary, bestselling Canadian band. And now, almost forty years of music can be appreciated in a brand-new way: an ABC picture book! From "A is for Ahead by a Century" to "N is for New Orleans is Sinking" all the way to "Z is for Frozen in My Tracks," this illustrated ode to the band will be enjoyed by readers of all ages. Featuring art from Canadian illustrators Clayton Hanmer, Julia Breckenreid, Bridget George and Monika Melnychuk.
Publication date: 10/24/2023
Pre-Order this book through Penguin Random House
All images ©Julia Breckenreid 2024
The Pocket Book is a simple and spare ode to the treasures we find and keep in our pockets and the memories they hold.
By Alexandra S. D. Hinrichs
Illustrator Julia Breckenreid
ISBN: 9781951836856
Publication Date: September 5, 2023
Order this book through Indiebound
The Pocket Book has been chosen to appear in the Society of Illustrators 2023 Original Art Exhibit. This annual exhibit was created to showcase illustrations from the year’s best children’s books published in the U.S.
… “Breckenreid’s mixed-media artwork emphasizes the found quality of the objects featured via collages that work smoothly with text to create a poignant portrait of the way even small or mundane items can hold meaning.” - Publishers Weekly
All images ©Julia Breckenreid 2024
Front end-papers for The Pocket Book
Written by Jackie Azúa Kramer
Illustrated by Julia Breckenreid
Cameron Kids | Abrams, 2021
ISBN: 9781951836214
ORDER the book through Indiebound
A story about Dorothy & Herbert Vogel, a librarian and a postal worker in New York, who spent every extra dollar they made amassing an important and sizeable Conceptual and Minimalist art collection in their tiny apartment. Later in life they gave it away to museums across the country for all to enjoy.
Here is a KEY to help you identify and find out more about the artists.
Recognition and Accolades:
This book was chosen to appear in the Society of Illustrators 2021 Original Art Exhibit. This annual exhibit was created to showcase illustrations from the year’s best children’s books published in the U.S.
The kitchen scene in this book has been chosen for the American Illustration 41 archive.
A JLG Gold Standard Selection
The Canadian Children’s Book Centre magazine, 'Best Books for Kids & Teens for 2022', gave this book a Red Star, signifying a title of exceptional calibre.
“…memorable, innovative illustrations (including a particularly dramatic double gatefold) capture the Vogels’ love of art and the artists of New York’s SoHo community…” - Kirkus Reviews
“"What an odd and enchanting book! …” - School Library Journal
All images ©Julia Breckenreid 2024
Written by Beth Kephart
Illustrated by Julia Breckenreid
A picture book about the places we go to create, inspired by Virginia Woolf and her noted essay.
Cameron Kids | Abrams, 2022
ISBN: 9781951836382
ORDER the book through Indiebound
Read this review from Publisher’s Weekly: A Room of Your Own
Featured in the New York Times
“It is fortunate that the words chosen are so powerful, because otherwise there would be a risk of Breckenreid’s illustrations stealing the show.” Vanessa Curtis, Review: A Room of Your Own. Virginia Woolf Bulletin, No. 74, the Virginia Woolf Society of Great Britain.
All images ©Julia Breckenreid 2024
Two spreads from a little 5 page story I wrote & illustrated, featured in the CANVAS issue of Illustoria magazine.
All images ©Julia Breckenreid 2024
Author, Natasha Wing
Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), 2009
Order this book through Indiebound
Awards & Accolades:
“Strikingly illustrated by the award-winning graphic artist Breckenreid (in an admirable picture-book debut) and supported by terrific, inclusive backmatter, this will prove a must-have for museum shops as well as school and public libraries…” - Kirkus
This book received starred reviews from the School Library Journal and the The Horn Book, was a Junior Library Guild (JLG) selection, awarded by the American Library Association (ALA), given a California Reading Association Eureka! Honor Book Award, named a 2009 Smithsonian Notable Book and listed as one of the New York Public Library’s 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing.
ISBN-10: 0805080724
ISBN-13: 9780805080728
ISBN-13: 9780545493383
Chinese translation: 986604906X - Hardcover 2011
All images ©Julia Breckenreid 2024
All images © Julia Breckenreid 2024
This is a painted sketch I did of a good friend’s daughter, Iris, a few years ago, while she read a book in my studio. I do love working this way... A quick conversation, no hesitation, just reaction.
Messing around with Procreate for the first time... Kept it simple - 3 colours, one brush. Used James Baldwin for reference.
Once in a while I can convince a good friend to sit for me for a half hour in my studio. This is Lili.
Once in a while I can convince a good friend to sit for me for a half hour in my studio. This is Micheline.
My mom. I miss her more than words can say.
I like drawing more when I pretend I'm painting. This is a sketch of my friend Hanna and her daughter.
Once in a while I can convince a good friend to sit for me for a half hour in my studio. This is Maryam.
Once in a while I can convince a good friend to sit for me for a half hour in my studio. This is Nathalie.
Once in a while I can convince a good friend to sit for me for a half hour in my studio. This is Michelle.
Nathalie
Michael Shannon, actor
Portrait Work
All images ©Julia Breckenreid 2024
Author & Editor, Amy Novesky
Caitlin, Kyle & Sam