November 04, 2020 Julie Van Grol Meet the artists of the 2020 MCAD Faculty Biennial Amidst the converging crises we’re facing in 2020, I am exploring moving illustration to capture questions, emotions, and ideas. In the spring and summer of 2020, I framed my confrontation of the aforementioned crises as innately tied my illustration practice, both as investigation and reaction. Like many do, I try to navigate complex topics with metaphor and story, and I am interested in how a .gif can amplify that story. I appreciate how .gifs live between still illustration and animation, and I’m exploring the effect that movement has on the message. About Julie Van Grol Julie Van Grol serves as Assistant Professor in the Design Department at MCAD, where she teaches courses in illustration. She earned her BA in Studio Art from St. Olaf College in 2008 and her MFA in Illustration from MCAD in 2014. In her illustration practice, Van Grol focuses on storytelling, play, and expressive use of color. Her work spans from editorial to advertising to publishing, with clients including Pollen Midwest, Quarto Publishing, AARP, St. Paul Public Library, Representative Ilhan Omar, and Minnesota Private Colleges Council.