Julie Van Grol

Julie Van Grol is an Assistant Professor in the Design Department at Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD). She teaches courses in illustration, blending liberal arts and design disciplines. Her research focuses on storytelling, expressive color use, and the dynamic interplay between static illustration and movement through .gifs, which she explores as tools for conveying complex emotions and ideas.

Van Grol holds a BA in Studio Art from St. Olaf College (2008) and an MFA in Illustration from MCAD (2014). She has taught at both MCAD and St. Olaf College, covering topics such as editorial illustration, decorative surface design, and professional practices. Her professional work spans editorial, advertising, and publishing sectors, with clients including Pollen Midwest, Quarto Publishing, AARP, and Representative Ilhan Omar.

Her creative practice emphasizes values-driven projects and experimentation with visual narrative forms. Recent professional highlights include participation in the 2024 Minneapolis Illustration Conference (ICON12) and a 2020 Faculty Biennial Profile showcasing her response to contemporary societal challenges through illustration.