Duncan Tonatiuh is a celebrated Mexican author and illustrator, who was born in Mexico City and grew up in San Miguel de Allende. He has a distinctive artistic style, which is inspired by the Mixtec codex, a type of pre-Columbian manuscript. This style is characterized by flat, geometric shapes and bold colors, which he uses to create his unique and culturally rich illustrations.
Tonatiuh received his BFA from Parsons School of Design and his BA from Eugene Lang College, both of them divisions of the New School University in New York City. His first picture book, "Dear Primo: A Letter to My Cousin," was published by H N Abrams in 2010. The book is a bilingual story that explores the relationship between two cousins, one living in the United States and the other in Mexico. It received critical acclaim for its engaging narrative and beautiful illustrations.
Tonatiuh's work often touches on themes of social justice and Mexican culture. His illustrations of the AH1N1 pandemic in Mexico, for example, were selected for CONACULTA's catalog of Mexican illustrators for children and young adults. They also appeared in the BBC when the pandemic broke out. Additionally, his short graphic novel "Journey of a Mixteco" won the prize for the best thesis in the Integrated Design Curriculum department at Parsons. It was also published in the webcomix site topshelfcomix 2.0
Currently, Tonatiuh is working on two new picture books, and he regularly uploads new illustrations about current events to his blog. He is an active advocate for diversity in children's literature and is committed to creating books that reflect the experiences of underrepresented communities. He travels extensively in the U.S., visiting schools, libraries, and bookstores, promoting his work and sharing his passion for art and storytelling with young audiences.