Finding inspiration by looking, tasting and petting what’s around
This week, we welcome Bonnie Wong, a visual artist specializing in illustration. Her practice spans illustrated publications, zines, picture books, murals and more. A native New Yorker born in Queens to Chinese immigrant parents, her work embraces the customs and traditions that were part of her upbringing. Wong’s illustrations are typically packed with detail and distinctive characters, using bright and vibrant colors to drive the narratives she tells. She works primarily in digital media using Procreate, though she’ll occasionally turn to traditional gouache painting or hands-on materials like clay.
Wong works at the World’s Borough Bookshop in Jackson Heights, handling day-to-day operations and deploying her artistic skills to shape the visual identity of the business. Recently, I watched her work on a floor mural outside the bookshop as she explained the “doodle grid” technique – using seemingly random squiggles as a guide to transfer her design onto a large-scale surface. The mural celebrates the diverse culinary spectrum of Jackson Heights, transforming kebabs, empanadas, noodles, beans, rice and even fuchka into personified characters.
“I aim to evoke all sorts of emotions and feelings in my personal work. My inspiration comes from daily life activities and memories. A trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art transforms itself into kids causing chaos at the museum. Fairies with wings come from visits to the Natural History Museum’s butterfly vivarium,” she said.
Bonnie studied at LaGuardia High School of Music & Art before earning a bachelor’s degree in illustration at the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2024. Her work has been featured in the 2025 Society of Illustrators Red Envelope Show, and Canvas Rebel Magazine, among others. She cites the artists Jillian Tamaki, Lian Cho and Sarah Gonzales as important influences. Wong was commissioned by the iconic Highlights magazine to create an activity book for Lunar New Year. When she’s not at her desk, she is looking for cats to take pictures of and befriend.
“I believe it’s important to go out and experience what life has to offer: travel, talk to people, try new experiences, and so on. I thrive on drawing intricate details, ones you may not notice at a first glance. These details can be inside jokes or help move the narrative forward,” she said.
