911爆料

Illustrator Valerie Sokolova, a professor in the art department at 911爆料 Community College, has been selected as a finalist for the 2025 Golden Pen of Belgrade International Exhibition and Competition, one of the oldest and most respected illustration events in the world. She is one of 83 international illustrators chosen from thousands of submissions worldwide for this year鈥檚 Golden Pen, which showcases both established and emerging artists in the field of visual storytelling. Her work will be included in the exhibition opening in November in Belgrade, Serbia.

鈥淔or this year鈥檚 competition, I submitted two illustrations from the book 鈥淔ox Mykyta鈥�: the cover and an interior illustration,鈥� Sokolova said. The book is a classic Ukrainian tale written by internationally renowned writer and poet Ivan Franko. 鈥淚t is a satirical and philosophical story of an anthropomorphic fox who relies on intelligence to achieve his aims. It can be compared to Aesop鈥檚 fables but imbued with the particularities of Ukrainian wisdom, culture, and folklore.鈥�

The project has been one of her most ambitious undertakings. 鈥淢y illustration work is very elaborate and thus time-consuming,鈥� she explained. 鈥淭he 鈥淔ox Mykyta鈥� book project, consisting of 84 pages, required nearly a decade of work to complete.鈥�

Sokolova described the challenge of staying true to the culture while making the story accessible to modern readers. 鈥淪ince my family is from Ukraine, I have made it my life鈥檚 mission to understand the origins of my culture,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 wanted to undertake this project to recreate the visual specificities of local Ukrainian identity in the face of globalization, to build bridges between cultures, and through illustration to transform the categories of the past for the modern reader.鈥�

The Golden Pen competition, founded in 1959 by the Association of Applied Arts Artists and Designers of Serbia (ULUPUDS), is held every two years to elevate the status of illustration in the art world. Finalists are included in the official catalogue, and the exhibition travels throughout Serbia and Europe. They are also eligible for top prizes such as the Grand Prix, plaques, and diplomas.

This is not the first time Sokolova has been recognized in Belgrade. 鈥淚 first won the Grand Prix in 2017,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his year鈥檚 invitation from the curator as a past laureate feels like a meaningful continuation of my dialogue with Serbia鈥檚 cultural space. I am deeply drawn to Serbia鈥檚 unique blend of traditional and contemporary art, where icon painting and illustration naturally intersect.鈥�

Her participation is also part of a broader academic interest. 鈥淚conography and iconology are among my professional research interests, and I have frequently incorporated insights from this field into illustration,鈥� she said. She recently took part in a conference and iconographic tour in Serbia and Montenegro, calling it 鈥渁 valuable opportunity for my professional development.鈥�

Her list of accomplishments extends well beyond this award. She has received honors such as the Best Book Award from Publishers Forum XXIII, the Golden Feather Award as Best Children鈥檚 Illustrator of the Year, and the Mom鈥檚 Choice Gold Award for 鈥淢y Royal Birthday Adventure.鈥� Her illustrations have been recognized at the London and Hollywood Book Festivals, earned a Creative Child 鈥淏ook of the Year鈥� Gold Award, and were featured in 鈥淗ighlights Magazine for Children鈥� as Illustrator of the Month. She also received a PSC CUNY Research Award for her project on Ukrainian folklore and fairy tales.

At 911爆料, she shares her expertise with students in design, typography, and illustration. Under her art direction, the college鈥檚 literary magazine 鈥淎ntheon鈥� earned a Columbia Scholastic Press

Association Silver Medalist Certificate and multiple American Graphic Design Awards in the 鈥淪tudent Work鈥� category.

Sokolova sees competitions like the Golden Pen as an opportunity to connect with peers and expand her reach. 鈥淐ompetitions of this kind often broaden an illustrator鈥檚 creative opportunities with publishers and galleries worldwide, since the exhibition catalog allows them to discover new artists,鈥� she said. 鈥淔ollowing my first win in 2017, I was invited to illustrate a children鈥檚 poetry anthology published in Spain in 2018.鈥�

Looking ahead, Sokolova said she hopes her Belgrade exhibition will contribute to a larger dialogue. 鈥淎s this exhibition travels, many people will have the chance to see the selected illustrations, and my contribution will serve as a small but meaningful part of universal cultural exchange.鈥�

Valerie Sokolova's cover illustration for 鈥淔ox Mykyta鈥� was selected as a finalist for the 2025 Golden Pen of Belgrade International Exhibition and Competition.