A Wonderful Week at the
Bologna Children’s Book Fair!
We had an incredible time at this year’s
Bologna Children’s Book Fair, connecting with artists, publishers, and illustrators from around the world to celebrate the power of storytelling through art.
This year was the second time the Society of Illustrators participated in the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, presenting select works from The Original Art, our annual exhibition celebrating the year’s most exceptional children’s book illustrations published in the United States. As part of an ongoing partnership with the Bologna Children’s Book Fair and Mimaster Illustrazione established in 2023, 52 stunning pieces from the Society’s 2024 show were on view. In addition to the exhibition, we curated programming throughout the duration of the Fair, featuring illustrators who are currently or have previously been showcased in The Original Art.
We were thrilled to host a panel spotlighting The Original Art exhibition competition. The conversation was introduced by our Executive Director, Arabelle Liepold, and featured The Original Art Artistic Director Laurent Linn in conversation with celebrated artists Ed Vere, Sergio Ruzzier, and Beatrice Alemagna—our 2024 Gold Medal winner.
Throughout the fair, our Children’s Programs Consultant, Clare Pernice offered daily tours of The Original Art exhibition, providing visitors with an inside look at this year’s selected works and the stories behind them.
We also had the pleasure of hosting a hands-on workshop led by illustrator Azadeh Westergaard, inspired by her stunning book The One & Only Googoosh: Iran’s Beloved Superstar.
Our Director of Exhibitions, Steven Compton joined illustrator and board member Eugenia Mello to offer insights into The Original Art competition process.
A huge thank you to all the talented illustrators who participated in our portfolio reviews, including Eugenia Mello, Ed Vere, Azadeh Westergaard, Cynthia Alonso, and Marcos Almada Rivero.
Together with BCBF Director Elena Pasoli, we raised a celebratory glass to Beatrice Alemagna, whose beautifully crafted work for Pepper & Me earned her the 2024 Gold Medal in this year’s The Original Art exhibition.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to our friends at Mimaster Illustrazione for their outstanding work hanging The Original Art exhibition and for curating the vibrant programming at the Illustrators Survival Corner.
Another standout moment of the week was the official unveiling of The Art of Folio preview, presented in collaboration with the award-winning illustrator duo The Balbusso Twins and The Folio Society. Now on view at the Society of Illustrators through July 12, 2025, this landmark exhibition celebrates the work of more than 90 artists, showcasing the extraordinary range, diversity, and imagination shaping contemporary book illustration today.
