Brett L. Helquist (born November 1965) is an American illustrator best known for his work in the children's book series A Series of Unfortunate Events . [1] As such, his illustrations for that series have appeared in multiple media, including the books, the audio book covers, and the calendars. Helquist graduated from Brigham Young University (BYU) with a BFA in illustration in 1993. After graduation, he moved to New York City where he worked full-time as a graphic designer, occasionally drawing for newspapers and magazines. Helquist's work has been featured in children's magazines, along with The New York Times . He has illustrated almost 50 books.
Helquist was born in Ganado, Arizona, in 1965, and grew up in Orem, Utah, with his six sisters. [2] [3] His love of art and his desire to become an illustrator came from reading comic strips in newspapers as a child. [4] Helquist served as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hong Kong, then earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Brigham Young University in 1993. Prior to entering the illustration program at BYU, Helquist studied as an engineering student. [5] He took a year off during his time as a student to take a job in Taiwan where he illustrated a textbook. [6] This experience helped him make the decision to switch to illustration and the visual arts. From there, he worked closely with Utah artist and BYU professor of illustration Robert Barrett. [6]
Helquist has lived in New York City since 1993. [7] Immediately after graduating from BYU, Helquist was an intern for illustrator Robert Neubecker. [4] For six years, he worked as a graphic designer, drawing for magazines and newspapers in his spare time. [8] He has been published in the children's magazine Cricket , and in The New York Times . He is represented by Steven Malk of Writers House in New York City. [9]
In 2011, it was announced that Helquist would be producing images for a new edition of the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series by Alvin Schwartz.
In August 2017, Helquist donated several boxes filled with early sketches of his illustrations for A Series of Unfortunate Events to BYU's Special Collections department. [10] These sketches were displayed at BYU until the end of September 2017. [8]
In February 2019, Helquist was the Artist Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker at the 37th annual Life, the Universe, & Everything science fiction and fantasy arts symposium. [11]
In 2024, The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity, which Helquist illustrated, won the Sibert Medal. [12]
Besides the 13 A Series of Unfortunate Events books, Helquist has provided illustrations for nearly 50 books, varying from children's books to young adult novels.
Helquist produced new cover illustrations for a reprint of the 1954–1976 Green Knowe series by Lucy M. Boston (Harcourt, 2002; retaining the original interior illustrations by the writer's son Peter Boston): [13]
He also produced new illustrations for a reprint of the 1981–1991 Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series by Alvin Schwartz (Harper & Row, 2011):
Helquist also wrote and illustrated Roger, the Jolly Pirate, ISBN 0-06-623805-6, published in 2004; Bedtime for Bear, ISBN 0-060-50205-3, published in 2010; and Grumpy Goat, ISBN 0-061-13953-X, published in 2013.
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