LightBox Expo Online to Host 3rd Annual Concept Art Awards
The LBX Concept Art Luminary Award celebrates a person from the concept art community who has made an impact with their artwork in the past year – this year’s honoree is:
LBXO attendees can navigate a 3D virtual show floor featuring over 300 artists from across the globe. Registration for LightBox Expo Online is now open. Additional information is available here.
Featured guests will include Oscar winner Domee Shi (director of Bao, upcoming Turning Red); Phil Boutte Jr. (costume concept artist, Black Panther); Maggie Kang (director of K-Pop: Demon Hunters); Derek Thompson (story artist, Toy Story 4); Armand Serrano (background designer, What If…?); Jill Culton (director of Abominable); and Carlos Grangel (character designer, Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride).
“LightBox Expo Online 2020 was an amazing weekend of art and artistry during a challenging year,” commented character designer and illustrator Bobby Chiu. “We’ve come back this year with an event that is even bigger, better and broader in scope, encompassing almost a full week’s worth of programming and activities.”
Source: LightBox Expo
On Saturday, September 11 at 6PM PST, LBXO will present the third annual Concept Art Awards, hosted by Aldis Hodge (Black Adam) and Krystina Arielle (Star Wars: The High Republic). The Concept Art Awards is produced by The Concept Art Association, an organization that focuses on elevating and raising the profile of concept artists. It remains the only award show of its kind to recognize and bring increased awareness to the role of concept artists throughout the world of entertainment.
- Craig Mullins – credits include Armageddon, Bioshock 2, and Halo.
- Iain McCaig – credits include Star Wars: Episode 1, 2 & 3, Avengers: Endgame.
The Concept Art Association was founded by Creative Recruiter Rachel Meinerding and producer and co-founder of the BRIC Foundation, Nicole Hendrix. Sponsors for the 2021 Concept Art Awards presented by LightBox Expo include Artstation; Adobe; Wacom; Legacy Effects; Costume Designers Guild Local 892; The Animation Guild Local 839; Art Directors Guild Local 800; College for Creative Studies; ImagineFX Magazine; Gnomon School of VFX + Animation; Schoolism; and ArtCenter College of Design.
- Andy Park for his work on WandaVision and Black Widow.
Artists will be honored for their artistic excellence in the professional categories of Live-Action for Film and Series; Animation for Film and Series; Games; VR; Original Concepts/Independent; Student Work; and Fan Art. Work was submitted from projects including Soul; Assassin’s Creed Valhalla; Raya and The Last Dragon; Lovecraft Country; Mulan; WandaVision; Cyberpunk 2077; Loki; and World of Warcraft. A complete view of 2021 finalists are available here.
This year’s Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented to pioneers that have not only pushed the concept art world forward but are still actively working in the industry and mentoring the next generation of artists.
“Each year, the Concept Art Awards is a highlight of Light Box Expo,” shared Emerald City Comic Con founder Jim Demonakosis. “We’re thrilled to be able to present LBXO and the Concept Art Awards again while we are still cognizant of the ongoing pandemic. We’re especially happy to be able to bring people from around the globe who wouldn’t necessarily be able to travel to California to create a memorable weekend celebrating art.”
