simona bortis-schultz

An illustration for a holiday card wishing for peace + love.

Illustration speaking to the app developed by the midwest based Breck school to improve student learning and growth.

in response to recent tragic warfare in Gaza, Ukraine and ongoing world events.

A book cover design for a dystopian novel by Carl Trotz.

Personal work.

Editorial illustrtation for a feature on “Why We Give” for alumni magazine for Moore College of Art + Design. Created in collaboration with Creative Communications/Noodle, for Moore College of Art + Design.

Had the wonderful opportunity to create a series of “Women’s Work” stamps for International Woman’s Day in collaboration with the spectacular folks at The Portland Stamp Company. Stamp sheet available for purchase here.

In 2022, it was my sixth year having the pleasure of illustrating, lettering and designing the holiday card for Austen Riggs Center, a private psychiatric hospital, in western Massachuchetts. This year’s theme was the impact of community and the power of touch. Hugs and groups keeping a sense of togetherness alive.

To Hold Your Heart in Your Teeth is a Romanian proverb that means to brave forward despite fear. Made by generations of women, the folk garment of the Romanian blouse secured its language through times of fierce changes. This book is a cultural-historical biography of the blouse, from Neolithic beginnings in northeastern Romania and western Ukraine, through the period of folk revival, the communist era, and the post-communist immigration out of the region. Weaving personal narrative with this historical research, Simona Bortis-Schultz, author and designer of this book, is a New York-based child of this immigration. To Hold Your Heart in Your Teeth, Women’s Work: The Visual Language of the Romanian Blouse, is an homage as it stands in solidarity with generations of resilient women, writing out the design qualities of this feminine fortitude, and the charm of the garment they made to survive. Book available at Set Margins Press.

Diving head first into a cup of coffee. Available at the ispot.

A set of illustrations for a feature on best sleep practices for Clover Living Health publications. In collaboration with AdvanceLocal.

A feature editorial project on maternal mortality in America’s South for Rollins Magazine, a publication of Emory Rollins School of Public Health. Several versions culminated in an animation for this feature article. The feature won a bronze Anthem Award in 2024.

My fifth year illustrating and designing the holiday card for the Austen Riggs Center, a psychiatric hospital in western Massachusetts. Always aiming to bring the light into the darkness. 2021’s theme was resilience. Metallic blue silver subtly weaves itself into the snowy landscape in this year’s card as the brightness of people and community shines forth. Despite it all we step forward climbing, playing, riding out those gray sky days together and keeping fires stoked.

A look at the urge to travel.