I am a freelance illustrator and 2D animation artist with over four years of professional experience. My main focus is hand-drawn illustration, educational illustration, and realistic narrative imagery, with a strong attention to clarity, storytelling, and visual coherence. I work on projects that require clear visual communication, whether for educational content, editorial illustration, or narrative-driven visuals. In addition to illustration, I create 2D animations that support storytelling and explanatory ideas. I have collaborated with publishing houses and am familiar with professional editorial workflows, deadlines, and client communication.

Yu Zhang

I am a freelance illustrator and 2D animation artist with over four years of professional experience. My main focus is hand-drawn illustration, educational illustration, and realistic narrative imagery, with a strong attention to clarity, storytelling, and visual coherence. I work on projects that require clear visual communication, whether for educational content, editorial illustration, or narrative-driven visuals. In addition to illustration, I create 2D animations that support storytelling and explanatory ideas. I have collaborated with publishing houses and am familiar with professional editorial workflows, deadlines, and client communication.

Available to hire

I am a freelance illustrator and 2D animation artist with over four years of professional experience.
My main focus is hand-drawn illustration, educational illustration, and realistic narrative imagery, with a strong attention to clarity, storytelling, and visual coherence.
I work on projects that require clear visual communication, whether for educational content, editorial illustration, or narrative-driven visuals. In addition to illustration, I create 2D animations that support storytelling and explanatory ideas.
I have collaborated with publishing houses and am familiar with professional editorial workflows, deadlines, and client communication.

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Language

French
Advanced
English
Intermediate
Chinese
Fluent

Work Experience

Illustratrice indépendante at Self-employed / various clients (Pékin - remote)
December 1, 2021 - Present
Indépendante, réalisation d’illustrations pour divers projets éditoriaux et culturels: Rêve de la maison rouge — Planet Publishing; Biographies des scientifiques — Xiang Mei Culture; Mythes chinois — Reading Picture Times; Mots-clés de la culture traditionnelle chinoise — Chaohua Press; 128 poèmes — China Map Publishing; Histoires chinoises dans les reliques culturels — New Century Press.
Conservatrice adjointe d'une galerie at JspACE Art Space
September 1, 2021 - November 1, 2021
CDD, sur site
Illustratrice indépendante at Self-employed / Independent
December 1, 2021 - Present
Illustrator working remotely from Beijing for clients including Planet Publishing (Rêve de la maison rouge), Xiang Mei Culture (Biographies des scientifiques), Reading Picture Times (Mythes chinois), Chaohua Press (Mots-clés de la culture traditionnelle chinoise), China Map Publishing (128 poèmes), New Century Press (Histoires chinoises dans les reliques culturels). Specializes in illustration and visual storytelling drawing on traditional Chinese culture.
Illustratrice indépendante
December 1, 2021 - Present
Illustration work for multiple clients based in Beijing, including publishing houses and cultural institutes. Projects include Rêve de la maison rouge (Planet Publishing), Biographies des scientifiques (Xiang Mei Culture), Mythes chinois (Reading Picture Times), Mots-clés de la culture traditionnelle chinoise (Chaohua Press), 128 poèmes (China Map Publishing), Histoires chinoises dans les reliques culturels (New Century Press).

Education

Diplôme National d'Art (DNA) en Communication design graphique et illustration at École Supérieure d'Art de Lorraine (ESAL) – site de Metz
September 1, 2024 - June 1, 2025
Master en arts plastiques at Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA)
September 1, 2017 - June 1, 2020
Échange universitaire at Académie Centrale des Beaux-Arts de Chine (CAFA)
January 1, 2019 - June 1, 2019
Licence en gravure at Académie Centrale des Beaux-Arts de Chine (CAFA)
September 1, 2013 - June 1, 2017
Cours de langue française (Niveau : B2) at École Supérieure d’Art de Lorraine (ESAL)
September 1, 2024 - June 1, 2025
Formation à CAFA (en cours) at Académie Centrale des Beaux-Arts de Chine (CAFA)
September 1, 2025 - January 7, 2026
Diplôme National d'Art (DNA) en Communication design graphique et illustration at École Supérieure d'Art de Lorraine (ESAL)
September 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025
Cours de la langue française (Niveau : B2) at École Supérieure d'Art de Lorraine (ESAL)
September 1, 2024 - June 30, 2025
Master en arts plastiques at Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA)
September 1, 2017 - June 30, 2020
Échange universitaire at Académie Centrale des Beaux-Arts de Chine (CAFA)
January 1, 2019 - June 30, 2019
Licence en gravure at École des Beaux-Arts Nantes Saint-Nazaire
September 1, 2013 - June 30, 2017
CAFA program at Académie Centrale des Beaux-Arts de Chine (CAFA)
September 1, 2025 - January 7, 2026
Licence en gravure at Académie Centrale des Beaux-Arts de Chine (CAFA)
September 1, 2013 - June 1, 2017
Master en arts plastiques at Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA)
September 1, 2017 - June 1, 2020
Échange universitaire at Académie Centrale des Beaux-Arts de Chine (CAFA)
January 1, 2019 - June 1, 2019
Diplôme National d'Art (DNA) en Communication design graphique et illustration at École Supérieure d'Art de Lorraine (ESAL)
January 11, 2030 - January 28, 2026
Cours de la langue française (Niveau : B2) at École Supérieure d’Art de Lorraine (ESAL)
September 1, 2024 - June 1, 2025
CAFA at Académie Centrale des Beaux-Arts de Chine (CAFA)
September 1, 2025 - January 28, 2026

Qualifications

Diplôme National d'Art (DNA) en Communication design graphique et illustration
January 11, 2030 - January 28, 2026
Licence en gravure
September 1, 2013 - June 1, 2017
Échange universitaire
January 1, 2019 - June 1, 2019

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Education, Non-Profit Organization, Professional Services, Other