Melquea Smith

Melquea is an award-winning Black illustrator pursuing a career in illustrating books for children and children’s media.

Certified kid at heart and heavily influenced by animation, Melquea’s work immerses her viewers in a colorful realm, sparking connections and conversations with others about the community surrounding them. With her work, her goal is to show black girls and womxn that harnessing creativity, imagination, and absolute weirdness is a very valid way to express oneself.

Color, whimsy, and strong storytelling excites her. Through her work, she encourages kids and adults alike to embrace the magic around them, and to never let the cynicism of the world keep them down.