Liesel Barkei specializes in figure-focused narrative illustration for publishing and entertainment with a focus on book art and design. A longtime fan of the digital medium, her work fuses image and typography to honor the story-rich influences of science fiction, mythology, and her greatest and most lasting love: superheroes.

Currently based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, she graduates in 2026 with a BFA in illustration from the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design. When she’s not rendering her latest project, you’ll find her sifting through her overflowing comic collection, drafting film reviews, and rewatching ‘80s cartoons on old DVDs.