Thea Lu is a Chinese illustrator, designer, and picture book author based in Shanghai. She holds an MA in Strategic Design from Tsinghua University and an MA in Children’s Book Illustration from the Cambridge School of Art. Her debut picture book, Here & There, was named one of the Best Illustrated Children’s Books of 2024 by The New York Times.
Growing up in a small coastal town, she drew inspiration from the sea and its waves — a sense of freedom and playfulness that still runs through her work. Her illustrations are poetic, metaphorical, atmospheric, and sensuous, with rich textures and careful attention to detail.
For Lu, writing and illustrating are inseparable. She approaches each book as a whole concept, where words and images evolve together. Rather than aiming for a fixed style, she speaks of developing a “visual language” that shifts and adapts to the needs of each story.
Instagram | instagram.com/lu_thea
Website | thealu.net
Here and There is the story of Dan, the owner of a small seaside café, and Aki, a sailor who is always on the move. Two people, two different worlds: one cherishes stability, the other seeks novelty. Yet both sometimes feel lonely. When their paths cross, the world suddenly feels […]
