About

My father said there were two kinds of people: vertical and horizontal. I, however, am a diagonal.

My sister said I was a "skew.” Not even on the same plane.

St. Louis-based illustrator Melissa Whitaker creates narrative and editorial imagery. Through portraiture, line, color, and texture, she explores the space between idea and emotion, seeking clarity without losing ambiguity. She is drawn to work that balances wit with emotional depth, or offers a slightly off-angle way of seeing.

She creates concept-driven illustrations for magazines, books, and cultural organizations, with work recognized by Communication Arts, Creative Quarterly, 3x3, and ICON Gallery shows 12 & 13.

She has studied with and been mentored by John English, Sterling Hundley, Dale Stephanos, Edward Kinsella, Katherine Lam, and Giuseppe Castellano.

Outside the studio, she has a habit of looking where she probably shouldn’t—and calling it research.

Available for editorial illustration, publishing projects, book covers, and select commissioned work.

Now calling margaritas research.