Karen-Symone Lee is a coily hair illustrator and children's book author based in Stockton, California. She uses colorful, playful, narrative image-making to express herself across mediums including digital illustration, branding design, and books.
Karen is currently illustrating and designing the layout for Die Standing, an upcoming children's book developed with Elmer Dixon, co-founder of the Black Panther Party (Seattle chapter), based on his personal story within the Party's history.
She graduated from California College of the Arts with a BFA in Illustration and a minor in Writing, where her senior thesis, Hair, Hair!, became her first fully illustrated children's book. She also holds an M.Ed. from Alder Graduate School of Education. Her design work includes branding and marketing materials for the Tenderloin Merchants and Property Owners Association, including the annual Thai New Year celebration in San Francisco, as well as murals, hand-painted signage, and merchandise design for schools, and the full brand identity for Crown, her own hair care accessories line.
Karen draws on her love of culture, experience, and identity to create work that holds space for meaningful conversations within both society and community.
Currently accepting freelance illustration and design inquiries.
Work inquiries: karen@karen-symone.com
All Images © Karen-Symone Lee