Morgan Bissant, advocating for representation

Morgan Bissant is a graphic designer and illustrator based in New Orleans, LA. With a lifelong admiration for animation, Morgan draws inspiration from cartoons, comics, and anime. Early encouragement to pursue visual art classes eventually led to a career in illustration and design. Morgan earned a BFA in Fine Arts from Louisiana State University and has since worked as both an illustrator and graphic designer, bringing ideas to life through bold and creative visuals.

Let’s find out more about Morgan, where she finds her inspiration, how her process works, and more:

What would you say is your best piece of work / collaboration to date, and why?

My best piece to date would be Epic Ellisons: Cosmos Camps. I LOVED working on this book. It embodied everything I’ve enjoyed as a child, and it even included elements I enjoy seeing in today’s media. This book gave me a chance to stretch out and embrace my style. Not only did I have the opportunity to illustrate something that reflected each and every one of my inspirations, but it also allowed me to create something for young Black girls to enjoy.

Where do you like to go to be inspired, or how do you find your inspiration?

I have always been heavily inspired by animation. Whether it was anime or Western cartoons, I always longed to create illustrations similar to what I saw growing up. One of my biggest influences is Sailor Moon, which is still a favorite to watch. Seeing a team of female leads with beautiful outfits, hairstyles, and effects had left a lasting impact on my style. Other major influences of my style are the works of Bruce W. Smith, LeSean Thomas, and Marcus Williams.

Is there anything you'd say you would be a good advocate for? Please elaborate if so.

I will always advocate for representation for Black boys and girls. As a child, I often felt as if I wasn’t good enough, since I never saw myself depicted as a lead in animation. As an adult, I always hope that the illustrations I create inspire children and show them that they are beautiful.

What would you say sets you apart from other illustrators? Something you feel is unique to you.

I feel that for the stories I like to tell, my style is a bit different. I blend a wide variety of inspirations to create a style that is unique to me. I also prioritize illustrating several skin tones, facial features, and hairstyles that are often overlooked in media. I feel that the ideas I advocate along with the style I illustrate in have set me apart from others.

If you have done paid commissions prior to joining the agency, what would you say is something that clients repeatedly come to you for (up to now)?

Clients have primarily come to me for my character work. Whether it be paid commissions or freelance work through another organization, I have always been approached for my ability to create characters that embody what many people of African descent feel that they are missing in other areas.

How would you describe your style?

My style is varied, but I would mostly describe it as stylized, fun, diverse, and “cute.” It has a lot of elements that attract people of all ages. Because one of my influences was something that I found to be cute growing up, it naturally became a huge part of my style.

Please give a scenario of a project that would mean the world to you, if you were offered it - something that connects to something meaningful to you.

I would love to work on a project that reflects the culture of my city, New Orleans. I have always been passionate about where I live, and I have always wanted to be a part of something that can share my hometown with others.

Finally, if you were to illustrate a book related to a real life person, who would that be?

I would love to illustrate a book on the life of the late chef Leah Chase. As a New Orleanian, I found her story to be inspiring, especially because of her establishment’s importance to the local community. She was also the primary inspiration to my favorite princess–Tiana of Princess and the Frog. It would truly be an honor to be chosen to illustrate a book on such a prominent figure in New Orleans history.

If you’d like more info, please contact [email protected]

At illo agency, we pride ourselves in representing a collation of global illustrators, distinctly diverse in creativity and uniquely celebrated by like-minded clients across a range of commercial markets.