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Ariel Sun's minimalist illustrations characterised by a stark contrast of light and shadow

Ariel Sun's work is characterised by the stark contrast of harsh light and the shadows it casts and inspired by a generative approach that’s often found in Chinese Shanshui paintings – blank space.

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A stylised figure with long hair stands on a pink platform, silhouetted against deep purple shadows in Ariel Sun's minimalist illustration style

The China-born, New York illustrator is completely self-taught. She likes to bring in just enough elements to create a scene and story to evoke familiar, yet often rare in life, moods. A minimalist at heart, she uses shadows and blank space to leave room for our imagination. "I like to interact with my audience by making them curious about the rest of the story, and encourage them to come up with their own interpretations," she explains.

New places, architecture, and still life are often Ariel's favourite subjects to illustrate. Here is just a small sample of her work. You can discover more at www.arielsun.com.

A silhouetted figure leaps across a pink desert landscape beneath layered mountains in shades of orange and dark brown against a lavender sky
Two wire coat hangers with dark shadows cast against a pale background, rendered in Ariel Sun's minimalist illustration style
Minimalist illustration of two birds with orange markings perched on a pier, with a stylised hand and birds flying overhead against a blue sky and water
Minimalist illustration of a stark desert settlement with geometric buildings in cream and dark brown against a bright yellow sky, featuring blue window accents and antenna silhouettes
Woman in orange dress standing in a minimalist interior with bold orange and deep blue walls, palm frond shadows and geometric architecture
Minimalist illustration of a modernist pink building set in desert landscape with sand dunes against a vibrant magenta sky
Minimalist illustration of a tennis net with white lines and a yellow ball above it, set against a turquoise background with geometric shadows
Bright yellow modernist building with gridded windows and orange roof trim shot from below against a clear blue sky, with one teal window standing out from the rest
Minimalist illustration of a figure sitting in a modern chair facing a glowing fireplace, with framed artworks on a shelf and a celestial window beside them
An illuminated pagoda with curved roofs silhouetted against a deep blue twilight sky with an orange moon above rolling dark hills
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