Tou Yia Xiong is an illustrator from Brooklyn, NY, with Minnesota and Wisconsin ties.
His work is inspired by nature, sports, urban design, inclusion, and his Hmong roots. He explores these themes through his distinct geometric style, which is defined by fragmented shapes, high contrast, minimal text, and a very playful approach to perspective. His illustrations often blur the line between digital and analog processes by using organic shapes and nuanced textures that have a hand-made feel.
In an earlier life, he was a toy designer for nearly nine years at Manhattan Toy, where he created award-winning and best-selling toys, including Tree Top Adventure. His toy designs can be found at Anthropologie, Crate&Kids, MoMA, Target, Maisonette, and many more retailers.
As an illustrator, Tou Yia has worked with a wide range of clients such as Adobe, Walker Art Center, Pollen Midwest, and Optum.