Rita Tu is a visual storyteller who lives in New York with her 19-year-old dog. She loves exploring ideas from ordinary life and experimenting with different methods to tell the story expressively.

Usually, Rita combines hand-drawn elements with digital tools to create her works. This method can maintain the beauty of hand drawings with the flexibility of digital art. Also, she is enthusiastic about animating her illustrations and thinks motion is another language for artworks to express feelings and thoughts to the viewer. 

Rita collaborated with clients in advertising, publishing, art licensing, and editorial fields. Her illustrations and motion works have won awards from the Society of Illustrators, American Illustration, 3X3, Communication Arts, International Motion Art Awards, and The Young Ones ADC Awards.

Wells Fargo, Sallie Mae, Shanghai Library, Jiangxi Television, Quantasy, Pushart Studio, Dandelion Children’s Book House, People’s Literature Publishing House and other major publishing houses.

Experience

Freelance Illustrator, Visual Designer & Art Director | 2019 - Present

Created original illustrations and visual assets for publishing, branding, animation, and digital platforms, adapting artwork to different styles, audiences, and production needs. Led art direction for a short animated opening project for Jiangxi Television, collaborating with teams to refine visuals through feedback and deliver polished final files.

Represented Illustrator | Spinning Yarn, LLC | 2019 - 2024

Developed commissioned illustration and motion design projects under agency representation, contributing to campaigns, publications, and branded content for diverse clients.

Founder | Rita Tu’s Creative Camp | 2022 - 2024

Founded and led an in-person art education program, designing curriculum and teaching workshops.

Guest Lecturer & Mentor | 2023 - Present

Delivered short-term illustration courses, project guidance, and student mentorship across Jiangxi Normal University, Nanchang Normal University, and Savannah College of Art and Design.

Online Instructor | 2019 - 2023

Delivered online courses in illustration and visual design to students across different levels.

Society of Illustrators, Gold

Communication Arts Illustration Annual

The ADC Awards

World Illustration Awards

3x3 Illustration Annual

AI-AP | American Illustration Awards

Bologna Children’s Book Fair

The Young Ones Awards, ADC, Gold

Spectrum 25

The Applied Arts Awards

AI-AP | International Motion Art Awards

DEF CON 28 Art Contest