Michelle Garcia is a first-generation American and Latina illustrator and designer. Her work engages urgent social issues, immigration, justice, and equity, through punchy, direct imagery that turns complex ideas into approachable concepts. Working in traditional media with acrylics and pencils, she creates richly textured, vividly colored illustrations that work in conversation with the contemporary narrative unfolding in the United States and within her own community. Michelle holds a BFA from Massachusetts College of Art and Design and an AA from Orange Coast College, and after 10 years in New York City, she now works from Los Angeles.

Reach Out

Select Clients

The New York Times
The Atlantic
Politico
ProPublica
Vera Institute of Justice
PEN America
Independent Film Festival of Boston
Christianity Today
The Baffler Magazine
Oxford American
Data & Society Research Institute
Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc
Texas Monthly Magazine
Flaunt Magazine

Awards + Honors

The Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles
3x3 Illustration Annual
Stephen D. Paine Scholarship Award

Press

Michelle Garcia Dismantles the Empty Ideals of Racism and Social Hierarchy
Feature in Adbusters Magazine #141 — New Ways To Live, Love and Think

My second illustration for @theatlantic depicts the stories characters moment of escape, sprinting across a field under a reddish sky. To me this scene symbolizes their pursuit of a fleeting dream of normalcy and freedom. Thanks again to AD @gabypes
New illustration commissioned for @theatlantic , accompanying @jaredilemus ’ “Saint Dismas.” The illo portrays the intense moments of deception and survival within the story, where characters resort to creating false checkpoints to
I've always liked the unseen beginnings of my illustrations. Trying something new, I imported my colored pencil underdrawing – typically a blueprint for refining – into Procreate. Instead of painting a base of colors and transferring my l
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