Katia Wish

Katia Wish is a Visiting Lecturer in the Illustration Department at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt), where she has taught since Fall 2011. She is based in Boston, MA, and is actively involved in teaching undergraduate illustration courses, continuing education workshops, and youth programs. Her institutional affiliation is with the College of Art and Design at MassArt.

• BFA, Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Katia Wish specializes in illustration, particularly in children’s books, comics, and urban sketching. Her creative interests revolve around visual storytelling, watercolor techniques, character design, and the integration of personal experience—especially motherhood—into artistic expression. She emphasizes the creative process, emotional authenticity, and the interplay between life and art.

The available publications highlight her work in children’s picture books, focusing on themes of friendship, nature, and emotional growth. Her illustration style, rooted in watercolor and pencil, emphasizes sensory detail and expressive characters. These works reflect a consistent engagement with early childhood development, visual literacy, and narrative clarity.

Scientific and Creative Awards:

• 2011 Tomie dePaola Award – Winner
• Society of Illustrators of Los Angeles – Certificate of Merit (2019, 2010)
• Picture This! Exhibit, Danforth Museum of Art – 1st Prize (2015)
• 3×3 Magazine Annual – Honorable Mention (2015)
• Creative Quarterly Magazine – Runner Up (2012, 2010)
• Don Freeman Grant – Honorable Mention (2010)

Katia Wish mentors students through her teaching roles at MassArt, the New Art Center, and various enrichment programs. She has conducted numerous school visits, webinars, and professional development workshops, particularly on the topic of creating children’s books. Though no formal grants are listed, her award-winning projects and publications indicate recognition and support in her creative field. She has also participated in programs such as the Harvard Radcliffe Institute’s Virtual Seminar, demonstrating interdisciplinary engagement.

Katia Wish maintains an active creative studio and participates in exhibitions such as the Boston Art Book Fair, MICE (Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo), and alumni shows at MassArt. She is part of a broader community of illustrators and authors, frequently presenting at events and collaborating with institutions like SCBWI and the Danforth Museum.