Chiara Xie creates illustrations that go with the flow

One of the most difficult things for many young illustrators is settling on a style that sets them apart from all the rest and is comfortable to work in. It can feel impossible at times, but the young Montreal-based illustrator Chiara Xie has nailed a unique look and feel for her work – full of flowing, dynamic lines, organic curves, energetic colours, and a touch of femininity.

Chiara resolved her illustrative style while studying for a Master's in Illustration at Kingston University in London three years ago. It was all part of a creative, learning, and cultural journey that has seen her move from China to Italy, then to Boston and London, and finally settle in Montreal.

The Chinese, Italian and North American cultures have all influenced her work, but ultimately her style has grown out of her personality – it's a look that comes naturally to her.

"I started exploring my style by drawing things that resonate with my life, such as sport, wellness and travel," she says. "How would I characterise it? Elegant motion, I would call it. I have also been influenced by Italian futurism, particularly artists like Giacomo Balla, as well as contemporary illustrators such as Lorenzo Mattotti, whose expressive use of movement and atmosphere continues to inspire me."

Motion and dynamism come up a lot in our chat as they are so dominant in Chiara's portfolio. They're notions that arise from one of the core themes of her work – vitality.

"Nature, humans and our surroundings all possess vitality," she explains. "For me, dynamic and curving lines are a way of recording the action itself and capturing the energy of a moment. I want to translate a physical movement into a visual rhythm. Even in the decorative elements, I aim for a sense of flow. I see this as a form of pan-vitalism, where everything possesses its own rhythm and breath."

Chinese philosophy also plays a role in Chiara's thinking. She plans to do more botanical illustration in 2026 and to connect with the vitality of nature acknowledged in Chinese art. In Chinese philosophy, there is the notion of Shi, a sense of potency or momentum that emerges from Qi, the energy in all living things.

One of Chiara's favourite projects so far is a recent one – work for Christianity Today's January-February 2026 issue. "This editorial project truly reflects themes I've been consistently exploring – sports and community. I drew people at different levels to create dynamism, using curves to suggest motion and interaction. It was challenging in the sketching stage because I needed to craft how I wanted the rhythm of the image to be."

Another important commission was for Décor Maine magazine. Here, the art director wanted a more abstract image, which pushed Chiara into exploring beyond her typical approach to volume and perspective. It was a learning experience that has helped her develop.

In her personal piece illustrating Wimbledon tennis, she carried out similar explorations. "I was inspired by the fourth-dimension scene at the end of the film Interstellar. I moved away from a regular perspective to create more flow, reflecting the tension within the game. It was challenging for me, but I'm very satisfied with my progress, as my large-scale perspective images now carry a freer and more fluid sense of movement," she says.

Over the next couple of years, in addition to more botanical illustration, Chiara wants to push forward with her commercial work, explore richer emotional landscapes, create murals for sports brands and develop her skateboarding and climbing skills.