Welcome Our Newest Artist-In-Residence | Alec Lu

They applied. They were awesome. They became Redbubble Artists-in-Residence.

Read on to find out about latest Artist in Residence – Alec Lu.

Selected artists are moving into Redbubble’s Melbourne and San Francisco offices for 6 months to work on specialized creative projects. And have tons of fun, of course!

Originally from Taiwan, Alec’s passion for communicating through visuals inspired him to pursue a career as an illustrator in San Francisco.

Back in 2016, he was actually working as a design intern on Redbubble’s Marketing team. (Crazy, huh?) He worked on a lot of great projects and made some lasting friendships with the first round of Artists in Residence, Jose and Katie.

He enjoyed his time so much that he decided to apply for the residency himself!

During his residency, he will be working on a children’s book about an LGBT family, showcasing how family bonds come in all shapes and sizes. His visually stunning illustrations harken back to a classic era, giving the storyline an even greater depth.

Alec

Hamster Tunnel

1. Describe your work in 7 words or less.

Lively colors, graphic shapes with texture.

2. Tell us about the project you will be working on while in the RB residency program?

Since I am a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I feel drawn to contribute my talents in a positive manner to strengthen it. Often, when I walked into the children’s section of a bookstore, I see very little (or no) stories which depict a diverse range of families. I decided to add my own story, and hope that this is just the beginning of many books to come!
In the story, the child begins asking questions as she becomes more aware that her parents are not “traditional”. This book is all about embracing diversity, love, and knowing it is ok to ask questions.

3. Name a fear of yours.

As an artist, I often avoid trying new styles and new materials for fear of messing up, but it’s important to remind myself that getting out of the comfort zone can benefit my career tremendously.

As a human being, I’m afraid that I won’t get to see with my own eyes, every single beautiful corner of this gorgeous planet, since I love traveling and new experiences.

4. What is something most people don’t know about you?

Before going to art school, my second choice was to major in Political Science.

5. If you could go back in time, what would you tell your younger artist self?

Keep practicing and messing up. No matter how hard the circumstances can be, always remind yourself how passionate you are to become an illustrator and NEVER GIVE UP!