Alta Journal is proud to be a home for many of the world’s best illustrators. Under the leadership of creative director John Goecke, artists from our magazine are frequently honored by prestigious organizations like the Society of Illustrators and the Society of Publication Designers. Last year, we were thrilled to publish work by a stellar group of illustrators. Here are five of their outstanding contributions.
ALTA FOLIO: OF ICE PACKS AND MEN, ILLUSTRATED BY JOE CIARDIELLO
For this special pullout, Joe Ciardiello brought his personal perspective to the adventures of a middle-aged man playing semiprofessional football. Ciardiello’s ink-and-watercolor creations depict not just the action of the field but also the searching and fear of the story’s characters.
“ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE LAND OF CHILDREN,” ILLUSTRATED BY VICTOR JUHASZ
Victor Juhasz’s images accompany each short story that Alta publishes, amplifying its themes and calling attention to key moments of the narrative. For this upended version of a fairy tale, Juhasz’s illustrations playfully defy the laws of physics and juxtapose color to black-and-white sketches to increase the tale’s dramatic tension.
“SKETCHBOOK: DISASTERS BRING OUT OUR BEST,” ILLUSTRATED BY MATT MAHURIN
In the aftermath of the Los Angeles wildfires in January 2025, artist Matt Mahurin, who had been evacuated, sought to bear witness to both the destruction and the life-affirming, communal response. He created these unforgettable images.
“25 BOOKS THAT DEFINE CALIFORNIA,” ILLUSTRATED BY CHRIS SICKELS
The meticulous craftsmanship and boundless creativity of Chris Sickels is breathtaking. He builds highly detailed miniature sets from clay, which he then lights and photographs to achieve a singular effect. Look closely at the Maltese Falcon book cover on the opener of this special section.
“‘THINGS THAT COULD NOT BE AVOIDED’,” ILLUSTRATED BY MARK SMITH
Sure, that’s a drawing of a detective with a bullet hole in his forehead, but inside the wound is a portrait of a cult leader and his followers. Mark Smith’s illustrations often feature these enigmatic details—drawings within drawings—a style perfectly suited to this cat-and-mouse tale of law enforcement and a wayward group of cultists.•
Blaise Zerega is Alta Journal's editorial director. His journalism has appeared in Conde Nast Portfolio (deputy editor and part of founding team), WIRED (managing editor), the New Yorker, Forbes, and other publications. Additionally, he was the editor of Red Herring magazine, once the bible of Silicon Valley. Throughout his career, he has helped lead teams small and large to numerous honors, including multiple National Magazine Awards. He attended the United States Military Academy and New York University and received a Michener Fellowship for fiction from the Texas Center for Writers.
