About
Alejandra Peñaloza is an illustrator whose work celebrates the magic of nature, the charm of everyday life, and the quiet beauty of small moments. Her work is rich with thoughtful detail, characterised by immersive atmospheres, balanced colour palettes, and dynamic compositions. While she primarily works digitally, her illustrations retain the warmth and texture of acrylic paint—a nod to her roots in traditional media.
She immerses herself in each project to gain insight into the behaviours, movements, and stories that characterise her subjects. She translates these observations into vibrant, dynamic images, capturing the essence of each subject both in its natural setting and in dreamlike scenarios. Her approach balances accurate representation with subtle surrealism, highlighting the wonder of the natural world and everyday life. She gathers firsthand references when possible to ensure authenticity and depth in her work. This ongoing exploration deepens her understanding of the energy of her subjects and keeps her connected to the natural world.
When she’s not working, she enjoys discovering great food, watching films, and taking long riverside walks and Berlin gardens with her dog.
Clients
Alejandra has collaborated with clients such as:
Anthropologie, Breathe Magazine, AAAS Science Magazine, GMC Books, High Jinks Ranch, Chanticleer, and Sisyphos Nightclub.
Education
Alejandra holds a BA in Graphic Design from Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City, and an MA in Fine Art from Kingston University, London.
Affiliations
Alejandra is a member of Illustrators for Hire and The Association of Illustrators.
Reviews
“The Sonoran Loteria cards Alejandra designed exceeded expectations. They are stunning. She captured the vision I had and exceeded it. The small details she included in each image were thoughtful, well done, and beautiful.
She has a unique style to her art which includes the richness in the colors she uses and the details she decides to include to tell the image in each story. Her artwork immediately stood out to me when I was searching online for an artist to work with on the Loteria cards. I am really glad you agreed to the project; thank you! I found her very easy to work with and she set a timeframe and kept to it.”
-Alyson, High Jinks Ranch“The t-shirts came out beautifully. Everyone loves them! Even the few people who where skeptical of this project I started really love it. Alejandra did such a beautiful and thoughtful work. I am incredibly grateful.”
- Brian, Chanticleer
“The book cover for my poetry chapbook is perfect. Alejandra did such an incredible work. This was an emotional and personal experience and she found a way to understand my vision and making it a reality.”
- Leeah, author of Paper Kingdom
“I absolutely love how the Summer Reads illustration turned out, it really is so breathtaking! In the words of our book section editor (who has been here for over 10 years): ‘it’s probably the most strikin illustration we’ve ever had!’”
-Noelle, AAAS Science Magazine
Contact
Alejandra is always open to new collaborations, commissions, licensing and creative conversations. Reach out at studio@alejandra-penaloza.com
