Kristy Caldwell is a New York-based illustrator who uses visual and written narratives to explore imagination as a tool for shaping perception and developing creative agency. Her portfolio spans publications, exhibition, and performance.
She has illustrated 13 children’s books, including picture books focused on community engagement around historical themes, like Flowers for Sarajevo, a 2017 New York Public Library Best Book for Kids and one of Bank Street College of Education’s Best Children’s Books of the Year. Her illustrations have been recognized by Communication Arts, American Illustration, and 3x3 magazine. She is an Assistant Professor at Queens College, CUNY.
kc@kristycaldwell.com
@kristy.caldwell
SELECT INTERVIEWS ABOUT PROCESS
- ‘Trim Sets Sail’ and ‘Trim Helps Out’ — Historical Fiction about a Ship’s Cat, Conversations, Kansas Public Radio
- Thanks to Frances Perkins: An Interview with Kristy Caldwell, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
- From the Sketchbook: Kristy Caldwell / Children’s Book Council
- Let’s Talk Illustrators #100, Let’s Talk Picture Books
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PROJECTS
PUBLICATIONS AS ILLUSTRATOR
- Hopkinson, Deborah, and Kristy Caldwell. Trim Sails the Storm (Adventures of Trim), Peachtree Publishing, 2024
- Hopkinson, Deborah, and Kristy Caldwell. Trim Saves the Day (Adventures of Trim), Peachtree Publishing, 2024
- Hopkinson, Deborah, and Kristy Caldwell. Trim Helps Out (Adventures of Trim), Peachtree Publishing, 2023
- Hopkinson, Deborah, and Kristy Caldwell. Trim Sets Sail (Adventures of Trim), Peachtree Publishing, 2023
- O’Donnell, Kelly, and Kristy Caldwell. A Bonefish Street Activity Book, Scholastic Inc, 2021
- Hopkinson, Deborah, and Kristy Caldwell. Thanks to Frances Perkins: Fighter for Workers’ Rights, Peachtree Publishing, 2020
- Newman, Judy (as Pepper Springfield), and Kristy Caldwell. Bobs and Tweets: New Dog in Town, Scholastic Inc., 2020
- Mortensen, Lori, and Kristy Caldwell. Away With Words: The Daring Story of Isabella Bird, Peachtree Publishing, 2019
- Newman, Judy (as Pepper Springfield), and Kristy Caldwell. Bobs and Tweets: Scout Camp!, Scholastic, 2019
- Newman, Judy (as Pepper Springfield), and Kristy Caldwell. Bobs and Tweets: Trick or Tweet, Scholastic, 2018
- McCutcheon, John, and Kristy Caldwell. Flowers for Sarajevo, Peachtree, 2017
- Newman, Judy (as Pepper Springfield), and Kristy Caldwell. Bobs and Tweets: Perfecto Pet Show, Scholastic, 2017
- Newman, Judy (as Pepper Springfield), and Kristy Caldwell. Meet the Bobs and Tweets, Scholastic, 2016
- Perrault, Charles, and Kristy Caldwell. Puss in Boots (World’s Famous Fairy Tales), (South Korea), 2013
- Scamehorn, Ryan, and Kristy Caldwell. “Space Needle.” Carrier Pigeon: Illustrated Fiction and Fine Art, Volume II, Issue 4, pp. 104–109, 2012
- Blair, Matthew, and Kristy Caldwell. “Sloth.” Carrier Pigeon: Illustrated Fiction and Fine Art, Vol. 2, No. 2, pp. 04–09, 2012
- Schulenberg, Corinna, and Kristy Caldwell. “The Midas Touch.” Carrier Pigeon: Illustrated Fiction and Fine Art, Vol. 1, No. 4, pp. 23–29, 2011
- Fleming, Ben, and Kristy Caldwell. “Inertia-fied.” Carrier Pigeon: Illustrated Fiction and Fine Art, Vol. 1, No. 3, pp. 110–120, 2011
- Thompson, Brian, and Kristy Caldwell. “Walter’s Ladder.” Carrier Pigeon: Illustrated Fiction and Fine Art, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. vi–09, 2010
- Donn, Ronald, and Kristy Caldwell. “The Rapture Hat.” Action, Yes! Online Quarterly. Vol. 1, No. 4 (web), 2007
- Saleem, Samia. Degrees of Separation. Featherproof Books, 2007
- Caldwell, Kristy. “From the Sketchbook: Kristy Caldwell.” Children’s Book Council (blog), 2019
- Pettibone, Richard, and Kristy Caldwell. Richard Pettibone: The Blind Man. An interview with artist Richard Pettibone. Castelli Gallery, 2016
- Caldwell, Kristy. “Illustrator Boot Camp 2013: Character Building with Rachael Cole.” Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (blog), 2013
- Caldwell, Kristy. “Selections from the ‘American Muse’ Exhibition.” Antiques and the Arts Weekly, 2011
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50/50 for Ruston. Group exhibition fundraiser curated by Joey Slaughter. Ruston Farmer’s Market, Ruston, LA, 2022
- We Tell Stories—The Exhibition: MFA Illustration as Visual Essay 30th Anniversary Show. Alumni exhibition curated by Marshall Arisman. SVA Chelsea Gallery, New York, NY, 2014
- Conversations II. Group exhibition of international artists curated by Prof. Joon Hee Lee. Kookmin University Museum, Seoul, KR, 2012
- Carrier Pigeon Issue 2 Release. Group exhibition curated by Russ Spitkovsky. Sacred Gallery, New York, NY, 2011
- Artist Driven. Group exhibition curated by Bruce Waldman. Powerhouse Arena, Brooklyn, NY, 2010
- Carrier Pigeon Issue 1 Release. Group exhibition curated by Russ Spitkovsky. 20/20 Gallery, New York, NY, 2010
- Peter Pan Centennial. Juried exhibition under William Joyce’s curatorial direction. Artspace, Shreveport, LA, 2004
- An Unlucky Number of Paintings. Solo exhibition. Bry Art Gallery, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA, 2003
- MARS: A Play About Mining. Co-created by Kristy Caldwell, Tom Coiner, Adam Miller, Adam H. Weinert, and Jeremy Pickard.
Presented by Superhero Clubhouse and Matchbox Arts in association with Chez Bushwick. Performed at the Center for Performance Research, Brooklyn, NY, 2013
PRESENTATIONS
INVITED PANELS, LECTURES, TALKS
- From the 19th Century to Today: Giving a Voice to People Through Time Using Stories Past and Present. Webinar with Kristy Caldwell, Connie Shofield-Morrison, Don Tate, and Yuyi Morales, hosted by Kia Hiese, Ph.D., for Mackin Learning (remote), 2022
- Guest Lecturer, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Illustration BFA (remote), 2022
- New Worlds and the Picture Book Process. Guest Lecturer and Critic, Parsons School of Design, Parsons China/US Illustration Ages 14–18 (remote), Oct 2022
- Picture Books of a Place. Guest Lecturer, School of Visual Arts, Continuing Ed. course: Comics of A Place (remote), 2022
- New Worlds and the Picture Book Process. Guest Lecturer and Critic, Parsons School of Design, Parsons China/US Illustration Ages 14–18 (remote), July 2022
- Monthly Story Time—Women’s History Month. Webinar with Lori Mortensen, Candace Fleming, Connie Schofield-Morrison, and Elizabeth Zunon, Belmont Books, 2022
- Finding Your Voice in Someone Else’s Story: The Alice in Wonderland Method. Guest Lecturer, Fashion Institute of Technology, Illustration MFA course: Narrative Art, 2022
- Finding Your Voice in Someone Else’s Story. Alumni Series Talk. School of Visual Arts, MFA Illustration As Visual Essay (remote), 2020
- Artist Talk. University of Florida, Center for European Studies course: Early Childhood Children’s Literature (remote), 2019
- Back 2 Back presentation with Roxie Munroe at Books Are Magic: a program that pairs authors and illustrators for joint presentations on the process behind their creative work. Organized by Pat Cummings
- Visiting Artist. School of Visual Arts, Chilean Summer Workshop, 2017
- ‘Trim Sets Sail’ and ‘Trim Helps Out’—Historical Fiction about a Ship’s Cat. Podcast segment with Deborah Hopkinson and Kristy Caldwell, hosted by Dan Skinner for Conversations series on Kansas Public Radio, 2023
- Thanks to Frances Perkins: An Interview with Kristy Caldwell. Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast (blog), 2020
- Let’s Talk Illustrators #100: Kristy Caldwell. Let’s Talk Picture Books (blog), 2019
- Illustrator Spotlight: Kristy Caldwell. KidLit 411 (blog), 2019
- Insights: Kristy Caldwell. Edited by Sue Garibaldi. Communication Arts (blog), 2012
- Ready, Set, Draw! Video segment for KidLit TV. Directed by Julie Gribble, 2023
- Active Imagination for Visual Storytellers. Private event space, Astoria, NY. Funded by City Artists Corps grant, 2021
- Glen Rock Children’s Book Festival 2024. Featured illustrator, exhibiting Adventures of Trim seriesNew Orleans Book Festival 2017. Participating author, presenting and exhibiting Bobs and Tweets series, 2017Book Expo 2017. Featured illustrator at the Peachtree Publishing booth, exhibiting copies of Flowers for SarajevoAmerican Library Association Midwinter 2016. Featured illustrator at the Peachtree Publishing booth, exhibiting copies of Flowers for Sarajevo
HONORS / AWARDS
- Faculty
Fellowship Publication Program Spring 2025 Fellow, City University of New York, 2024–2025
- Kobe-Setouchi Artist Residency.
Invited participant in an international residency for comics and illustration artists in western Japan, developing site-responsive work based on firsthand research and experience, 2024
- American Illustration 42 Winner (chosen)—Virtual ‘Cartoon’ Exhibitions for Castelli Gallery, 2023
- NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People—Thanks to Frances Perkins: Fighter for Workers Rights, 2021
- NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People—Away With Words: The Daring Story of Isabella Bird, 2020
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Parents’ Choice Foundation Parents’ Choice Recommended Award —Away With Words: The Daring Story of Isabella Bird, 2019
- Kansas State Reading Circle Recommended Reading List (Starred, Intermediate), Kansas National Education Association, 2018
- Bank Street College of Education Best Children’s Books of the Year 2018—Flowers for Sarajevo
- New York Public Library Best Books for Kids 2017—Flowers for Sarajevo
- Los Angeles Public Library Best of 2017: Children’s Books—Flowers for Sarajevo
- Parents’ Choice Foundation Parents’ Choice Gold Award—Flowers for Sarajevo, 2017
- American Bookseller Association ABC Best Books for Young Readers—Flowers for Sarajevo, 2017
- NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People—Flowers for Sarajevo, 2017
- NCTE Notable Books in the Language Arts—Flowers for Sarajevo, 2017
- Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2017—Flowers for Sarajevo, 2017
- Junior Library Guild Spring 2017 Selection—Flowers for Sarajevo, 2017
- 3x3 Honorable Mention in Children’s Book Category—Bachi and the Rooftop of the World, 2012
- Communication Arts 53 Winner, advertising category—Don’t Look Away, Flux Theatre Ensemble, 2012
- American Illustration 29 Winner (chosen), “Walter’s Ladder,” Carrier Pigeon: Illustrated Fiction and Fine Art, 2011
- American Illustration 28 Winner (selected), Johnny’s Got His Gun, 2010
GRANTS
- City Artists Corps Grant, awarded by New York Foundation for the Arts and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs to fund the workshop Active Imagination for Storytellers, 2021
REVIEWS
- “Trim Saves the Day.” School Library Journal, March 1, 2024
- “Children’s Books: Kate DiCamillo’s ‘Ferris.’” The Wall Street Journal, March 1, 2024
- “A Closer Look: Selections from ‘Trim Saves the Day’ by Deborah Hopkinson, illustrated by Kristy Caldwell.” The Wall Street Journal, February 27, 2024
- “Trim Saves the Day.” Kirkus Reviews, February 1, 2024
- “Trim Sets Sail.” BookPage, October 2, 2023
- “Trim Helps Out.” Kirkus Reviews, November 15, 2023
- “Trim Sets Sail.” Kirkus Reviews, November 15, 2023
- “Trim Sets Sail.” Publishers Weekly, August 17, 2023
- “Thanks to Frances Perkins: Fighter for Workers’ Rights.” School Library Journal, August 1, 2020
- “Thanks to Frances Perkins: Fighter for Workers’ Rights.” Kirkus Reviews, August 1, 2020
- “Thanks to Frances Perkins: Fighter for Workers’ Rights.” Booklist, July 2020
- “Paying Tribute to History’s Heroines.” BookPage, March 2019
- “Away With Words: The Daring Story of Isabella Bird.” Publishers Weekly, January 3, 2019
- “From the Guide: Be An Everyday Un-Hero.” Horn Book, June 4, 2018
- “‘Flowers for Sarajevo’ Commemorates War Through Words, Pictures, and Music.” Publishers Weekly, March 21, 2017
- “Flowers for Sarajevo.” Kirkus Reviews, February 1, 2017 (Starred Review)
- “A musical elegy for the victims of war.” BookPage, April 1, 2017
- “Flowers for Sarajevo.” School Library Journal, April 1, 2017 (Starred Review)
EDUCATION
- MFA Illustration as Visual Essay, School of Visual Arts, 2008–2010
- UNO International Student Exchange program, Charles University, Prague, CZ, Spring 2001
- BA Studio Art, University of New Orleans, 1999–2001
- Studio BFA coursework, Louisiana Tech University, 1997–1999
TEACHING
Art Department, Queens College, CUNY
Illustration II/Illustration Portfolio, Senior Capstone
Faculty Thesis Advisor, Fall 2023–Spring 2024
MFA Visual Narrative (MFAVN), School of Visual Arts
Thesis Studio
Adjunct Instructor, 2022/2023
Continuing Education, Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Development of five-week course Active Imagination: Ideation Process for Creatives
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2022–2023
Communication Design, Pratt Institute
Image As Communication, Dynamic Imagery
Adjunct Instructor, Summer 2021–2022
MA Graphic and Web Design (MAGWD), Minneapolis College of Art and Design
Design Studio
Adjunct Assistant Professor, Design, 2019–2023
Art Department, Queens College, CUNY
Illustration II/Illustration Portfolio, Senior Capstone, Design Foundations, Illustration II
WORK EXPERIENCE
Independent and collaborative illustration projects with publishers, arts organizations, galleries, and theater companies.
Director of Archives and Publications, Castelli Gallery, 2012–2017
Assistant to the Director, American Illustrators Gallery, 2010–2011
Co-owner and Content Editor, Carrier Pigeon: Illustrated Fiction and Fine Art, 2010–2014
Literary journal cross-pollinating “low-brow” and “high-brow” art genres and formats. Archived by The Smithsonian Institute and The New York Public Library
Editorial Intern, Schwartz & Wade Books, Random House Children’s Division, 2009–2010
Copyeditor, The News-Star, Gannett, 2006–2008
Contributing Art Editor, turnrow literary journal, University of Louisiana at Monroe, 2003–2004
Artwork solicitation for the 2004 issue, edited by Professors William Ryan and Jack Heflin
MEMBERSHIPS
Society of Illustrators, since 2023
Art Brand Alliance, since 2022
Society of Children’s Book Authors and Illustrators, since 2010